Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Reverend Richard Walter Jordan Sr. for his decades of dedicated community service and pastoral leadership to the numerous church congregations and communities that he served in the great state of Georgia and throughout the United States of America.

Reverend Jordan, a pillar in the Dougherty County, Georgia community, recently passed away at the age of 90 at the Wilson Hospice House in Albany. His funeral service was recently held at the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday, November 26, 2011.

Reverend Jordan was born and raised in Albany, Georgia and his early spiritual rearing took place at the Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Albany. During his early religious maturation and training in the Christian faith, Reverend Jordan served as an usher, choir member, and a deacon at Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church before being called into the ministry in 1955.

Over the course of his distinguished career in the ministry, Reverend Jordan served as the Senior Pastor at over 10 churches. His riveting and inspirational messages of adhering to the word of God positively impacted the lives of those he encountered.

He was a principled man who devoted his life to Christ by not only preaching good sermons and practicing good deeds but by unrelentingly allowing God to direct his steps and use his immeasurable talents to bestow motivation and inspiration upon those who had neither but needed both.

At the end of our mortal life's journey, our measure of greatness will not exclusively be determined by the number of degrees we have earned; the level of financial wealth we have obtained; the titles that have been imparted upon us; or by the tangibly expensive goods we have acquired.

The true measures of greatness are those time-honoured standards established by Jesus Christ that tell us, he who is great among you shall be your servant and he who is greatest shall be servant onto all. Reverend Jordan was great because he served and he will forever be remembered as one of Albany, Georgia's greatest because he sought to be a servant onto us all.

Mr. Speaker, my wife Vivian and I would like to extend our sincere sympathies and prayers to Reverend Jordan's beloved wife of 70 years, Martha Green Jordan, his lovely children and the congregation of Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church.

Reverend Jordan's mortal journey on this earth has ended but his devotional faith and inspirational courage will continue to live on in the countless individuals he counselled and served.

Mr. Speaker, It is my pleasure and honor to extend my sincere congratulations to the congregation of the Greater Beulah Baptist Church in Columbus, as the church's membership and leadership celebrates 108 years of providing spiritual guidance, moral counseling and dedicated community service to the residents of Muscogee County, Georgia. The congregation of Greater Beulah Baptist Church will celebrate their 108th anniversary on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at service ceremonies on the church's campus at 631 Sixth Avenue in Columbus, Georgia.

This upcoming anniversary ceremony will enable church members, local religious leaders, elected officials and other individuals throughout the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area to pay tribute to the members of Greater Beulah Baptist Church who have positively contributed to the spiritual maturation and personal development of those in the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area and beyond.

As one of Columbus, Georgia's long-standing institutions of Christian excellence, the Greater Beulah Baptist Church traces its historical roots back to 1903.

Throughout the last two centuries, the church's edifice has gone through numerous transformations, renovations and relocations. In the early 20th century, the church was located in a one-bedroom house on the corner of Dry Avenue and 12th Street. In 1904, the church relocated to a red church building on Magnolia Street and in the late 1940s, the church was reconstructed before moving to 6th Avenue.

Over the years the church has expanded its external and internal outreach efforts through the establishment of a Senior Choir; Gospel Choir; Junior Choir; Inspirational & Mass Choirs; Chester Medley Hayes Young Adult Choir; Golden Age Ministry; Layman Ministry; Prayer and Praise Team; Intercessory Prayer Ministry; Women Outreach Ministry; Greater Beulah Women Inreach Ministry; and Children's Church.

Over the years, the Greater Beulah Baptist Church has remained a dedicated community leader and supporter of projects that have assisted individuals in need. The church's Evangelistic Committee and Catherine Gordon Scholarship Fund have helped to advance educational charitable opportunities for students throughout Muscogee County, Georgia.

Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the Greater Beulah Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia for all the many things this church's members have done and will continue to do to positively impact the lives of those seeking spiritual guidance and in need of charitable assistance.

I thank the distinguished gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the Democratic and Republican leadership in both the House and the Senate for their timely consideration of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.

As the House sponsor of the Hiring Heroes Act provisions that are in the bill, I would also like to thank the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees for their outstanding work on this jobs measure, as well as to thank the chairs and ranking members of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Just as this Nation has a responsibility not to leave our soldiers behind on the battlefield, we also have an obligation not to forget our veterans when they return home.

Last month the unemployment rate for veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan was 12 percent. The youngest of veterans, ages 18 to 24, had a 30 percent unemployment rate in October. Among African American veterans aged 18 to 24, the jobless rate is a striking 48 percent. These numbers, Madam Speaker, are unacceptable. H.R. 674 allows us to honor our veterans by ensuring that they have the resources and the tools they need to find suitable and sustainable employment.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 674 and to provide our Nation's veterans with the employment opportunities that they need and so rightly deserve.

Madam Speaker, as the House sponsor of the Hiring Heroes provisions in this bill, I would be remiss if I did not also thank House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chair Jeff Miller; House Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Bob Filner; Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chair Patty Murray; and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr for their outstanding work on this comprehensive 1 veterans' jobs measure.

Last week as America celebrated Veterans' Day, patriots all across our great nation honored our brave veterans with parades, luncheons, and other ceremonies of remembrance. The many sacrifices members of our Armed Services have made for the freedoms we currently enjoy certainly warrants a national day of recognition and so much more.

Our patriotic service members have been instrumental in building and defending our democracy. We, as a nation, have a responsibility to pay tribute to them and preserve the memory of their service in our history and in our hearts and minds.

Just as this nation has a responsibility not to leave our soldiers behind on the battlefield, we also must not forget our veterans when they return home. In many respects, our soldiers need our help even more when they receive their discharge papers and return to civilian life.

Last month, the unemployment rate for veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan was 12.1 percent versus 9.1 percent for the U.S. overall. The youngest of veterans, age 18 to 24, had a 30.4 percent unemployment rate in October, an increase from 18.4 percent a year earlier. Among black veterans age 18 to 24, the jobless rate is a striking 48 percent. These numbers are unacceptable.

H.R. 674 allows us to honor our veterans by ensuring they have the resources and tools they need to find suitable and sustainable employment.

This wide-ranging legislation combines key components of President Obama's American Jobs Act, Chairman Miller's Veterans Opportunity to Work Act, and the Hiring Heroes Act. I sponsored the bipartisan Hiring Heroes Act in the House and Senator Patty Murray introduced the measure in the Senate.

The bipartisan Hiring Heroes Act provisions included in this legislation will ensure that all service members transitioning to civilian life receive the job training skills they need to find a job. This legislation allows service members to begin the federal employment process prior to separation in order to facilitate a smooth transition from the military to jobs at the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, and other federal agencies in need of our veterans.

This bill also makes the Transition Assistance Program--an interagency workshop coordinated by the Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs--mandatory for service members moving on to civilian life.

This initiative helps veterans secure 21st Century jobs by providing resume writing workshops, job search techniques, interview tips, and career counseling.

Other provisions in the VOW to Hire Heroes Act will provide nearly 100,000 unemployed veterans with up to one-year of additional Montgomery GI Bill benefits to qualify for jobs in high demand sectors. In addition, the legislation provides tax incentives of up to $5,600 for hiring veterans, and up to $9,600 for hiring disabled veterans, if the veteran has been looking for work for six months or longer.

Madam Speaker, we have an obligation to ensure our veterans land on their feet when they come home and help them find good paying jobs to support their families. These heroes have risked the most for our country. They shouldn't be coming home to unemployment checks. That's why providing this support to our nation's veterans is simply the right thing to do, and I look forward to voting in favor of this comprehensive veterans' employment initiative.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 674 and to provide our nation's veterans with the employment assistance opportunities that they need and so rightly deserve.

Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to extend a heartfelt congratulations to the congregation, administration, and supporters of Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church of Leesburg, Georgia as this fine institution celebrates 150 years of providing spiritual guidance and dedicated community service to the residents of Lee County, Georgia and individuals throughout the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area. This tenured religious institution will commemorate its 150th anniversary on Sunday, November 6, 2011 at a service ceremony at 143 Mt. Pleasant Road in Leesburg.

This upcoming anniversary ceremony will enable church members, local dignitaries, community leaders and other individuals throughout Georgia to pay tribute to a house of worship that has positively influenced many lives and served as a sanctuary for those in need of spiritual counseling.

Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church traces its historical roots back to our nation's dark days of slavery. The Church was founded in 1861 by a band of baptized believers in Christ on property deeded to them by slave owners.

Some of the church's early pastors, including Reverend Dough Johnson, Ben London, Gain Byrd, Tom Johnson and Reverend Gene Murray, worked endlessly to establish Mt. Pleasant as a stable institution that tended to the spiritual needs of its congregation and provided assistance to other churches in need of resources. Early in its existence, Mt. Pleasant graciously allowed members of Old Piney Grove Church to share its facilities and bury their members in Mt. Pleasant's cemetery until construction of Old Piney Grove's building was completed.

Throughout the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, Mt. Pleasant's edifice has gone through numerous transformations and renovations. In 1890, the first frame building was constructed on the eastern edge of the church's current location on Mt. Pleasant Road in Leesburg, Georgia. This building was built on a wood frame with four windows on each side and two doors at the front.

In the late 1930s, under the leadership of Reverend Wallace Davis, Mt. Pleasant's church building was renovated. After the 1930s renovation, the church building also served as a school house.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Reverend P.S. Sparks oversaw the construction of a new church building that included pews and pulpit furniture. In the early 1980s, under the direction of Reverend W.D. Slaughter, a new dining hall was added to Mt. Pleasant's campus.

Over the years, Mt. Pleasant has remained a steadfast community leader and supporter of several humanitarian initiatives that have assisted those individuals most in need. Mt. Pleasant's Mission Outreach Ministry donates food and clothing to low-income communities throughout the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area. The church is also associated with charity efforts sponsored by the Christian outreach group, Samaritan's Purse.

Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Leesburg, Georgia for all the many things this institution has done and will continue to do to positively impact the lives of those in Southwest Georgia.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I come to the House floor today to pay tribute to a remarkable group of African American trailblazers and patriotic servicemen, the Montford Point Marines.

These distinguished veterans did not just defend our Nation in a time of war; but through their courageous acts, they helped to spearhead a movement where the goals of achieving equal opportunity and respect for universal human rights are now more intricately woven into our society.

In 1942 President Roosevelt established a Presidential directive allowing African Americans to be recruited into the United States Marine Corps. These African American recruits were trained at a segregated compound known as Montford Point, a facility at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Over 20,000 African Americans bravely served in the Marine Corps during World War II. They selflessly and voluntarily put themselves in harm's way to defend our homeland and to safeguard these freedoms.

This past summer, Mr. Speaker, I had the honor of attending the reburial ceremony of Montford Point Marine Private James Benjamin. Private Benjamin's remains and surviving family members were escorted by the Patriot Guard Riders and members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars from the West Mortuary in Montezuma, Georgia; and he was laid to rest with full military honors at the Andersonville National Cemetery this past Memorial Day weekend.

He was disinterred from a segregated cemetery because at the time of his service he could not be buried where white servicemen were buried.

When it comes to recounting our Nation's history and looking back at the trials and tribulations that were endured by the Montford Point Marines, I doubt there is a generation or group of World War II veterans who had it tougher than they did. People sometimes forget that they were fighting two wars, both foreign and domestic.

But I would like to commend the spirit of these brave men because they guide me in my duties to maintain our government's commitment to our fighting troops and for helping the troops who protect our freedoms at this time. Not only does that mean that we have to, today, maintain adequate salary and benefit levels for the military, but we've got to keep our promise to our veterans, our armed services retirees, and their families.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleague, Corrine Brown, who has championed this issue and brought the story of the Montford Point Marines to the attention of our entire Nation. I commend the Commandant and Marine Corps for their efforts in making sure that our Nation doesn't forget.

I urge my colleagues, therefore, to support H.R. 2447 and to honor the first black Marines with the recognition that they deserve and that they have patiently been waiting for.

Mr. Speaker, following is my statement in its entirety:

Mr. Speaker, I come to the House Floor today to pay tribute to a remarkable group of African-American trailblazers and patriotic servicemen--the Montford Point Marines. These distinguished veterans did not just defend our nation in a time of war; through their courageous acts they helped to spearhead a movement where the goals of achieving equal opportunity and respect for universal human rights are now more intricately woven into our society.

In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt established a presidential directive allowing African-Americans to be recruited in the United States Marine Corps. These African-American recruits were trained at a segregated compound known as Montford Point, a facility at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Approximately 20,000 African-Americans bravely served in the Marines Corps during World War II. These men selflessly and voluntarily put themselves in harm's way to defend our homeland and safeguard our freedoms.

This past summer, I had the honor of attending the reburial ceremony of Montford Point Marine PVT James Benjamin. PVT Benjamin's remains and surviving family members were escorted by the Patriot Guard Riders and members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars from the West Mortuary in Montezuma, Georgia, and he was laid to rest with full military honors at the Andersonville National Cemetery this past Memorial Day Weekend.

When it comes to recounting our nation's history and looking back at the trial and tribulations that were endured by the Montford Point Marines, I doubt there is a generation or group of World War II veterans who had it tougher than them. People sometimes forget that these Marines were fighting two wars, one foreign and one domestic. Hitler, Mussolini and the Japanese Empire were not the only foes that the Montford Point Marines had to encounter. Every day they went into battle against Jim Crow, bigotry and racism here at home.

During World War II, there were some German and Italian prisoners of war that were treated better than the black soldiers serving in our Armed Services. Some American establishments that refused to serve blacks serving in the military would allow imprisoned German and Italian soldiers to patronize their facilities.

Not many people would have had the will to overcome such disparate treatment. But instead of harboring bitterness or vengeance, this group stood tall and remained above the fray.

The Montford Point Marines have demonstrated that patriotic service means more than just saying you love this country and the promise it offers. Their resilience and resolve show that true patriots are those individuals who prioritize the needs of their country ahead of their own, even if they do so at their own peril.

These Marines gave our nation a gift that extends beyond their heroic war service. In being the best of the very best, both on and off the battlefield, they helped to change perspectives and broaden peoples' horizons. They showed the entire world that when given an opportunity, people can meet any challenge and achieve any goal.

As a Member of Congress, I rely on the spirit of these brave men to guide me in my duties to maintain our Federal Government's commitment to our fighting troops and those who preceded them. That means not only maintaining adequate salary and benefit levels for our nation's military, but keeping our promise to our veterans, Armed Services retirees and military families.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleague, Corrine Brown, who has championed this issue and brought the story of the Montford Point Marines to the attention of the entire nation.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2447 and to honor the first black Marines with the recognition they deserve and have patiently been waiting for.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of Morehouse College's most distinguished graduates and accomplished alumni, Mr. Arthur J. McClung, Jr. I am very happy to point out that earlier this year Morehouse College President, Dr. Robert M. Franklin, presented Mr. McClung with the school's Presidential Award of Distinction in recognition of his many outstanding professional achievements, unyielding support for his alma mater and heartfelt philanthropic endeavors.

As a graduate of Morehouse College and as one who matriculated at Morehouse during the same period as Mr. McClung, I am very proud to call him a fellow alumnus and personal friend. As a dedicated family man, successful business professional and role model for young African- American men, Arthur J. McClung, Jr. has worked tirelessly to effectively balance his multitude of roles of being a loving husband, committed father, skillful senior executive and dedicated community leader.

Arthur J. McClung, Jr. is a native of Columbus, Georgia, the perennial site of this weekend's 76th Annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic. This classic is one of our nation's longest running football rivalries and Mr. McClung, Jr. along with his father, the late Arthur ``A.J.'' McClung, Sr., have played instrumental roles in this beloved event's ongoing success. The stadium that has hosted this game since its inception is named in honor of the late A.J. McClung, Sr.

This classic also created a fierce but friendly rivalry between the late A.J. McClung, Sr., a graduate of Tuskegee University, and his loving son who not only graduated from Morehouse College but was also a member of the school's renowned Maroon Tiger Marching Band. The McClung men's love for their respective colleges and their dedication to one of Columbus, Georgia's most treasured football traditions has reaped tremendous benefits for Tuskegee University, Morehouse College and the Columbus, Georgia community at-large.

In light of the McClung family's tenured involvement in the classic's success over the last five decades, this weekend Mr. Arthur J. McClung, Jr. will be named as an honorary alumnus of Tuskegee University, even though he is in fact a diehard Morehouse Maroon Tiger. This esteemed designation is one of the many outstanding accomplishments that Mr. McClung has enjoyed during his life's journey.

After graduating from Morehouse College in 1966, Mr. McClung, Jr. began his professional career at Westinghouse Electric. He later would go on to serve in important roles at IBM, the Atlanta Urban League and the United States government's ACTION Agency before eventually joining Georgia Power as a Consumer Affairs Representative. Throughout his twenty-six year career at Georgia Power, he served as an executive in the utility company's External Affairs, Economic Development and Corporate Relations divisions.

In concurrence with his notable career accomplishments, Mr. McClung has been repeatedly acknowledged for his outstanding community service and support for civic organizations throughout the state of Georgia. He is the recipient of awards from Ben Hill United Methodist Church; the Atlanta Area Council of Boy Scouts; Concerned Black Clergy; the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials; and the Rotary International. Furthermore, he has played a proactive role in supporting initiatives sponsored by Habitat for Humanity; the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta; Boy Scouts of America; the Butler Street YMCA; the Atlanta Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Georgia Citizens for the Arts; and the Fulton County Planning Commission.

It cannot be disputed that Mr. McClung has achieved numerous successes throughout his life. However, none of this would have been possible without the grace of God and the support of his loving wife, Angela. Mr. and Mrs. McClung, Jr. are the proud parents of Arthur J. McClung III, who like his father is also a proud graduate of Morehouse College. Art III went on to earn a Doctorate degree from Stanford University in Mechanical Engineering and in December 2010, he completed his post doctoral studies at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to Mr. Art ``Bullwinkle'' McClung, Jr. for his many career achievements, outstanding service, and public distinction and most importantly for his unrelenting support of the Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the outstanding humanitarian efforts and health care advocacy initiatives of one of my home-state's most prestigious organizations, the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI) at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia. It is appropriate and entirely fitting that this premier institute proudly bears the name of one of my most universally beloved constituents and one of America's most dedicated advocates for the underserved--former First Lady of the United States of America, Mrs. Rosalynn Carter.

RCI was established in 1987 and was formed in honor of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter to recognize her long-standing commitments to human development and efforts to push for parity in the delivery of long-term care health services. One of the institute's primary missions is to establish local, state and national networks that collaboratively work to build more effective long-term care systems and provide enhanced support services for the millions of caregivers who selflessly tend to the needs of our nation's dependent loved ones.

Due to emerging changes in our nation's demographics and a rapidly aging baby boomer population, the current services provided by the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving have never been more warranted than right now. As cited by the RCI, over fifty million family caregivers provide the largest proportion of care for dependent elderly individuals as well as adults and children with disabilities. Approximately six million adults over the age of 65 need daily assistance to live outside a nursing home. This alarming figure will grow to more than twelve million by 2030.

It is also worth noting that U.S. life expectancy has been generally increasing since at least the 1940s. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that life expectancy in the United States has hit another all-time high, rising above 78 years.

With longer life expectancy, come higher rates of chronic illness, disability and the need for more sustainable long-term care services. The average senior today will spend two or more of their final years disabled enough to need someone to help them with routine activities of daily living because of chronic illness.

To help meet the growing needs of our nation's caregiver communities and their disabled loved ones, RCI helped to develop an innovative, online information exchange medium within the Georgia CARE-NET coalition program that allows agencies and caregivers to obtain information about effective caregiving interventions. The online resource helps family caregivers determine which long-term health programs will best meet the specific needs of those in their care.

RCI is also working in tandem with other organizations to secure full funding to establish a Family Caregiver Education and Training Network. This network will provide access to training in evidence-based strategies for family caregivers.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that my colleagues join me in applauding the exceptional efforts of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, the RCI and its partner organizations for all they have done and will continue to do to address the paramount and expanding needs of America's caregivers. Their noble deeds and remarkable achievements have improved the quality of life for many of our nation's disabled seniors and chronically ill citizens. I and many others will remain eternally grateful to them for their many noteworthy endeavors and selfless acts of grace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding Man of God who has been a long-standing source of personal inspiration, spiritual guidance and moral leadership to me and the Columbus, Georgia community at-large, the Reverend Dr. Johnny H. Flakes, Jr. Later this year, Dr. Flakes will celebrate his fiftieth anniversary as the distinguished pastor of the Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus. What makes this extraordinary feat even more remarkable is that his fifty years of accomplished service at Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church runs concurrently with his fifty-two years of service as the senior pastor of Good Hope Baptist Church in Phenix City, Alabama.

Dr. Flakes' dynamic ability to successfully multitask the management of two flourishing churches, in two different states, over the last fifty years, is a monumental accomplishment that highlights his passion to reflect Christ through his thought-provoking sermons, pastoral leadership, unyielding love for the members of his congregations and his deep and abiding faith.

Despite the numerous challenges he has encountered along his life's journey, Dr. Flakes has not relented nor retreated in the face of insurmountable hardships. While his rebellious early life was filled with challenges--being a high school drop-out and suffering with both alcohol and gambling addictions--he surrendered his life to the calling of God through Christ Jesus and was transformed. He was called to pastor Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church and Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church and while pastoring both churches full-time, drove from Columbus, Georgia to Nashville, Tennessee and back each week over four years to earn his GED and Bachelor of Arts degree from American Baptist College.

He later would go on to serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for American Baptist College and recently the administration building on the school's campus was named in his honor.

Always pressing towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, to better improve the craft of Christian ministry and discipleship, he became a catalytic leader in the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, for many years served as President of the Congress of Christian Education for the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia and ultimately served on the Executive Committee Board of the National Baptist Convention. Dr. Flakes has also received honorary doctorate degrees from A.B. Lee Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, Florida and his beloved alma mater, American Baptist College.

Throughout his pastoral career, Dr. Flakes has played a leading role in several other religious-affiliated and community-based organizations. He served courageously as President of the Columbus branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for several years; is the President and Founder of ``A Call To Talk'' (ACTT); Chairman of One Columbus; and Chartering Pastor of the General Missionary Baptist Church Convention of West Germany.

Reverend Flakes has been repeatedly acknowledged for his outstanding achievements, service and public distinction. He is the recipient of the Outstanding Personality of the South Award; Ten Outstanding Ministers in the State of Georgia Award; Alpha Phi Alpha Martin Luther King, Jr. Award; Operation PUSH Martin Luther King, Jr. Award; and the Knighthood Award from the Congress of Christian Education.

Dr. Flakes has achieved numerous successes in his life, but none of this would have been possible without the grace of God and his loving wife of more than fifty-seven years, Robena Gaines Flakes. Dr. and Mrs. Flakes are the parents of three children--Sincera, Johnny and Merle-- and the proud grandparents of three granddaughters.

One of Dr. and Mrs. Flakes' sons, Johnny H. Flakes III, is an emerging community leader in Columbus, Georgia and now co-pastors at Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church and Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church with his father. As the scripture tells us, ``Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.'' Dr. Flakes has encouraged his children and grandchildren not to be carbon copies of him but to glean from his wisdom and experience and be available to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

On a personal note, Dr. Flakes has served as a spiritual advisor to me for many years, particularly during the twenty-four years I was a member of the Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church. Through trouble or triumph, he was always available and has always given me wise counsel. Mrs. Flakes is like a mother to me and I am proud each time she refers to me as ``son.''

The great theologian and mystic scholar, Dr. Howard Thurman, once said that: ``There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide that you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.'' To God be the glory that the Rev. Dr. Johnny H. Flakes, Jr. heard the sound of God's voice and answered the call for his life. Because he answered that call, my life and the lives of countless others throughout the world are better for it.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to Dr. Johnny H. Flakes, Jr. for his life of selfless service to God, the church and to humankind.

Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to extend a heartfelt congratulations to the administration, faculty, students, alumni and supporters of Albany Technical College, as this institution celebrates 50 years of providing vocational and technical training to thousands of Georgia residents. This learning center commemorates its 50th anniversary on Friday, September 30, 2011, with a gala at the Phoebe Towers North in Albany, Georgia. This widely attended gala will enable local dignitaries, prospective students, past graduates and other individuals from southwest Georgia to pay tribute to an institution that has positively contributed to Albany, Georgia's economic development and mercantile maturation over the last half century.

Founded in 1961, Albany Tech was originally established as the Monroe Area Vocational-Technical School. Shortly thereafter, the Albany Area Vocational-Technical School was built, and in 1972 the two schools merged to form a comprehensive and thriving educational cooperative. In 1988, the school continued its ongoing transformational advancement

through its affiliation with the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE) and the Technical College System of Georgia. This worthwhile partnership, allowed Albany Tech to expand its outreach initiatives by providing technical training opportunities to the residents, businesses and industries within a seven-county service delivery area. These counties include Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Dougherty, Lee, Randolph and Terrell.

Today, Albany Tech has adult learning centers in all seven of its service delivery counties. The college has more than 3,000 full-time students and another 2,500 are enrolled part-time in seminars, continuing education courses, teleconferences and customized business training programs.

As a member of the Technical College System of Georgia, Albany Tech provides vocational training support services for the thousands of non- traditional students, employees and industries that make-up southwest Georgia's expansive and ever evolving economic landscape. To accomplish this mission, the college utilizes traditional and distance learning methods. Specifically, the institution offers a wide-range of technical certificates that prepare students for employment opportunities in the fields of information technology, culinary arts, aeronautics, airplane construction, electronics, health care and other leading industrial careers.

I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Albany Tech's current President, Dr. Anthony Parker, for his outstanding leadership in promoting and advancing this training institution's many outstanding vocational services. Southwest Georgians will forever be indebted to Dr. Parker and his well-respected predecessor, Nathaniel Cross, for all they have done to make Albany Tech a more accessible and highly resourceful training facility for the many individuals and industries that rely on the school's key services.

Dr. Parker, his predecessors, and the Board of Directors should all be commended for their contributions in making Albany Tech a vital part of our local communities.

For years, the administration, faculty and alumni of Albany Technical College have been steadfastly dedicated and fully committed to implementing training programs designed to advance the economic development needs of southwest Georgia's workforce, small business community and corporations.

Due to this institution's diligent work and extraordinary efforts, employees, entrepreneurs and business owners throughout southwest Georgia have enjoyed continued success. In addressing the economic needs of hardworking Georgians through the expansive availability of strong vocational training programs, Albany Tech has facilitated our community's abilities to better respond to and meet the civic needs of our local residents.

Mr. Speaker, in closing I ask that my colleagues join me in expressing our collective and profound gratitude to the faculty, staff, alumni and supporters of Albany Technical College for all they have done to improve the quality of life for the residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to our Nation's longest serving juvenile court judge and one of Columbus, Georgia's most distinguished legal minds, celebrated military veterans and dedicated public servants, Judge Aaron Cohn. Judge Cohn, who has served as a juvenile court judge since 1965, will step down from that position at the end of this month. His longevity of dedicated judicial service and steadfast commitment to positively influencing generations of Columbus-area youth, are just a few of the many reasons as to why Judge Cohn has been an invaluable and irreplaceable pillar in Georgia's legal community.

A Columbus native, Judge Cohn was born on March 3, 1916. He is a graduate of Columbus High School and the University of Georgia. As a student at the University of Georgia, he epitomized the true meaning of scholar-athlete in that he was the Captain of the Bulldogs' tennis team, served as Vice President of the Inter-fraternity Council and was a member of the Blue Key Honorary Society.

Following his exemplary collegiate career, Judge Cohn was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1938 and in 1940 he volunteered for the United States Army. He served under General George Patton in World War II and earned the Bronze Star for his patriotic service on behalf of our great Nation. As a Major in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, he bravely fought with U.S. armed forces across France and broke through German defenses at Metz.

One of the most defining and heroic moments of Judge Cohn's illustrious military career occurred when as a young commanding officer in the U.S. Army, he was among the first of the Allied troops to help liberate the Nazi Concentration Camp in Ebensee, Austria. Almost 40 years later in 1982, he was honored by the United States Holocaust Memorial Commission as an Official Liberator of the Concentration Camp at Ebensee, Austria. Additionally, he was cited by the City of Bettembourg, Luxembourg, for his service in the liberation of Luxembourg while with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.

After the war, Judge Cohn diligently focused his efforts on working to prevent children from taking the wrong path, advocating civil rights and promoting religious tolerance. During the initial years following his return from Europe, he worked as a successful lawyer and served as chief registrar for Muscogee County, Georgia where he was active in the desegregation of the voter registration process. When he became a juvenile court judge in 1965, his love of children and his determination to help the underprivileged led him to embark on a highly successful and rewarding judicial career.

A recent headline in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer recently read ``Judge Cohn is an icon of integrity.'' It is true that Judge Cohn is an icon of integrity but he is also so much more. His notable judicial feats and vast accomplishments are an accumulation of tangibly substantive deeds that have positively impacted the lives of countless families around the world.

I would be remiss if I did not also recognize the important role that Judge Cohn's late wife, Janet Ann, played in his numerous achievements by being a supportive spouse, close confidant and loving mother to their three children: Gail Cohn, Leslie L. Cohn and Jane Cohn Kulbersh.

Finally, Judge Cohn has been a pillar of integrity throughout his life. He has been a mentor for me and limitless others; an adviser; role model and friend.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting a true American hero, outstanding legal scholar and one of Columbus, Georgia's most beloved figures, Judge Aaron Cohn, on the occasion of his well- deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great American farm advocate, successful businessman and dedicated community leader from the State of Georgia, Raymond C. Singletary, Jr.

Mr. Singletary, a pillar in Georgia's agricultural community, recently passed away at the age of 99 at Pioneer Community Hospital of Early in Blakely, Georgia. His funeral service was held at the First United Methodist Church on Saturday, September 17, 2011.

He was born March 26, 1912 to the late Raymond Cook Singletary, Sr. and Emma Quillian Singletary. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Margaret Sparks Singletary, his two sons Raymond Clifford Singletary and Marvin Sparks Singletary, and a brother A.J. Singletary and a sister Alice S. Dunn.

A lifelong Georgian, Mr. Singletary attended Sewanee Military Academy and graduated from Emory University in 1932 where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Following his graduation from college, Mr. Singletary embarked on a tenured and successfully dynamic professional career in the

fields of agriculture, banking and community service. He was a member of the Blakely Peanut Company and served as President from 1944 until 1978, and as Chairman of the Board from 1944 to 1985. Additionally, he was a member of the National Peanut Council, and served as the association's Chairman in 1966.

Along with his advocacy efforts on behalf of Georgia's peanut farmers, Mr. Singletary was the Supervisor of the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District from 1944 to 1971, and was Supervisor Emeritus from 1977 to 2011. Moreover, he served as a member of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger from 1979 to 1980.

Despite the demanding commitments associated with his occupational duties and agricultural advocacy initiatives, Mr. Singletary still found time to remain actively involved with other community organizations. He was a Mason, a Shriner, former Chairman of the Board of the First United Methodist Church and a distinguished member of the Blakely Rotary Club. In 2009, he received the Rotary Club's most prestigious award, the Four Avenues of Service Award.

He is survived by a daughter, Anne S. Hammack and her husband Albert of Dalton, Ga.; a daughter-in-law, Henrietta Singletary of Albany, Ga.; a sister, Emily S. Garner of Milledgeville, Ga.; 5 grandchildren: James Albert Hammack, III and wife Elizabeth of Atlanta, Ga; Margaret H. Long and husband Jason of Atlanta, Ga; McArthur Singletary and Duncan Singletary, both of St. Simmons Island, Fl. and Raymond Singletary of Atlanta, Ga.; 2 great-grandchildren: James Albert Hammack IV and Mary Moore Hammack of Atlanta, Ga.

I would like to ask my colleagues to join me in paying homage to Raymond C. Singletary, Jr. He lived a full life and the people of southwest Georgia will always be indebted to him for his unyielding support of our state's peanut farmers and our agricultural community at-large. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and the Blakely, Georgia community at this time of great loss.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. I.L. Mullins, Sr. for his fifty years of dedicated civic leadership and pastoral service to the communities of Thomas County, Georgia. On Saturday, September 24, 2011, Dr. Mullins' family, friends and the First Missionary Baptist Church of Thomasville, Georgia will recognize his half-century of outstanding deeds by hosting a ``Golden Jubilee Extravaganza'' in his honor.

Dr. Mullins is one of the most courageous and committed individuals that I have ever encountered. He has been a source of counsel and advice as well as a fountain of inspiration for me over the last several years. I have been truly blessed by his warm friendship and support.

Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Mullins has been a preeminent role model for local government officials and community leaders in Georgia and across our great nation. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, Dr. Mullins marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and was instrumental in organizing the local Thomasville branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Additionally, Dr. Mullins served effectively as a Thomas County Commissioner for five-terms that spanned over two decades.

Over the course of his lifetime, Dr. Mullins has masterfully balanced his civic responsibilities with his academic accomplishments and religious commitments. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College in 1957 and went on to obtain his Masters of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center & Gammon Theological Seminary in 1960. Furthermore, Dr. Mullins acquired his Doctor of Divinity degree from Faith College in Birmingham, Alabama in 1979.

Ordained as a minister on December 29, 1957, Dr. Mullins has served as the Pastor of the First Missionary Baptist Church in Thomasville, Georgia since 1961. Through his ministerial service, Dr. Mullins serves as the Dean of the Thomasville Extension Center of the American Baptist Theological Seminary and is a Volunteer Chaplain at Archbold Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Mullins is adored by many because of his unyielding zeal to help others and his passion for promoting harmonious relations among individuals from various backgrounds and different walks of life. Throughout my many years of association with Dr. Mullins, I have come to observe that it his intrinsic intelligence and high academic acumen that make him wise, but it is his kind heart and charitable character that speak to why he is so widely beloved.

In light of his many accomplishments, my wife Vivian and I would like to extend our personal congratulations and warmest regards to Dr. Mullins, his beloved wife the former Josephine Lovejoy Ferrell, their children and grandchildren. I know that residents all throughout Georgia's Second Congressional District will forever be indebted to the Mullins family for selflessly allowing Dr. Mullins to be a mentor, father-figure and counselor to countless other families in communities throughout southwest Georgia.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Mullins for his noteworthy and dynamic career as one of our nation's most profound theologians, principled community leaders and thoughtful humanitarians.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great man and child of God, the Reverend Dr. Howard W. Creecy, Jr. His passing is a great loss to his family, his congregation, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the Christian community.

Dr. Creecy was a paragon of what a devout servant of God should be. He was a third generation gospel preacher, teacher and community leader. His family's legacy of leadership has exceeded over 100 years of continuous commitment to the Christian ministry. Rev. Dr. Creecy was born in Mobile, Alabama, to Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Howard W. Creecy, Sr. The family later moved to Dothan, Alabama, before settling in Atlanta, Georgia, where he pursued his education.

In celebrating and acknowledging the outstanding achievements of Dr. Creecy, I am also paying homage to a family friend and someone who I considered to be one of my leading role models. The bond that my family enjoys with the Creecy family transcends different generations and is long-standing.

Like me, he was a proud Morehouse Man. He began his ministry at Morehouse College and completed his graduate work at the Morehouse School of Religion of the Interdenominational Theological Seminary. He also holds a Doctor of Divinity from Abotra Bible Institute and Seminary.

For 26 years, Dr. Creecy served as senior pastor of Saint Peter Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta. There, under his leadership, the church experienced tremendous growth, including a staff of ministers, administrators,

musicians and a pastoral clinical psychologist. Central to the growth and development of Saint Peter Church was his comprehensive and balanced vision of 21st century ministry.

Starting in 2002, Dr. Creecy pastored with his father, Rev. Dr. Howard W. Creecy, Sr., at The Olivet Church in Fayetteville, Georgia, where he brought his 21st century ministry innovations, while still standing upon traditional Christian values. While working with his father until his passing, Olivet's membership, ministries, and resources grew exponentially under his leadership as senior pastor.

Dr. Creecy was highly respected in the Christian community, and he was a frequent guest preacher nationwide and internationally. His strong faith and tremendous presence were felt by all around him.

He was involved in numerous civic, social and political activities, serving as chairman of the Atlanta Task Force of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; former chairman of the Board of Directors, Project Re-direction, Atlanta University Criminal Justice Institute; and Founding National Board Member of the Organization of New Equality (ONE), Boston, Massachusetts.

For his numerous endeavours, Dr. Creecy was honored and inducted by Morehouse College into the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel Board of Ministers and was a proud member of the NAACP. He was the first African-American to serve as Director of the Office of Chaplain Services for Atlanta Fulton County Government.

Dr. Creecy leaves behind a devoted family: his loving wife, Yolanda Grier Creecy, their two beautiful daughters, Teresa and Kennedy. On behalf of my wife, Vivian and myself, I want to extend our heartfelt sympathies to the Creecy family.

Dr. Creecy's devotion to God and his church were unsurpassed, and he has left us with a shining example of what a true Christian is. Romans 6:8 says, ``If we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.'' I know that today, Dr. Creecy lives with Christ.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor of the Rev. Dr. John A. Severson, who will celebrate fifty years of preaching the gospel this weekend. Through these many years, Rev. Dr. Severson has remained dedicated to spreading the Word of God and striving to improve his community, particularly those less fortunate.

John A. Severson was born in Calhoun County in Edison, Georgia to the late Mr. Lucious B. Severson Sr., and the late Mrs. Annett H. Severson. He received his early education in the public schools of Calhoun County, and in 1961, felt the call to ministry.

Rev. Dr. Severson received his Bachelors & Master's Degrees in Ministry from Bethany Theological Seminary, and he received his Doctorate of Theological Studies from the Bethany Divinity College and Seminary, in Dothan, Alabama. Since graduating, Rev. Dr. Severson and has been proclaiming the good news of the gospel to this day, serving several congregations in both Georgia and Alabama.

Presently, Rev. Dr. Severson faithfully serves the Union Missionary Baptist Church congregation, where he has given spiritual guidance for the past thirty-three years. Under his gracious leadership, many in his community have developed a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Further, many physical changes have taken place under his leadership: Rev. Dr. Severson has organized many new ministries and new outreach ministries in the community.

Dr. Severson is the past moderator of the Camilla Missionary Baptist Association; Co-Founder of the Christian Unity--biracial organization; past president of the Baptist Ministries Conference of Dougherty County; a member of Vision Albany; a member of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia; and a member of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education--National Baptist Convention, U.S.A. Inc.

As the Founder and CEO of the Union Mission Outreach Center, an outreach ministry for the Union Missionary Baptist Church and community, Rev. Dr. Severson and the congregation continue Jesus' work of helping the poor by providing medicine, eye glasses, and dental care to those community residents who otherwise could not afford it. In addition, Rev. Dr. Severson developed a summer enrichment program held at Union Missionary Baptist Church each summer which is available to the community free of charge.

Mr. Speaker, Rev. Dr. Severson's devotion to the improvement of his community reminds me of Matthew 25:35-37, in which Jesus says, ``I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me . . . Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'' Rev. Dr. Severson has done a remarkable job of touching the lives of his congregations, his communities, and especially the least of these. As we mark his fiftieth year of religious service, I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks and sincerest congratulations for his incredible contributions.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to urge all of my colleagues to support the Bishop amendment to H.R. 2551, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2012. This amendment would restore $1 million in funding to the Capitol Police to provide support for security upgrades to Congressional District offices as recommended by the House Sergeant of Arms earlier this year.

Most members, particularly members from rural districts with more than one district office, will undertake a variety of ``security'' upgrades and improvements to their local offices as a result of the tragic shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and related security threats.

Coupled with the costs of these new upgrades are reductions in the Members' Representational Allowance MRA for the second year in a row. This includes the 5 percent reduction in MRA in place for Fiscal Year 2011 and the proposed 6.4 percent reduction in MRA proposed in the Fiscal Year 2012 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill, which will be considered on the floor this week. The Fiscal Year 2012 proposed reduction in MRA will result in an average hit of approximately $95,000 per office, which will likely pose a severe strain on Member budgets. Additionally, you should know that security upgrades and improvements to Senate District offices will not be paid through MRA's.

My amendment would simply provide an additional $1 million in funding via the Capitol Police for security improvements for those offices impacted by new House security policy. The proposed offset comes from the ``Transition Activities'' account, which essentially provides funding for furniture and related equipment for Freshman members, which of course, should be minimal in Fiscal Year 2012.

Mr. Chair, it would be our intent, that if this amendment is accepted by this House, that the Sergeant at Arms, Capitol Police, members of our Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee and other pertinent House personnel, would work together to devise an effective plan and strategy for the use, approval and disbursement of these funds for district office security purposes.

The pressure and demands which we already have in managing our MRA's are great, and will be more difficult in the coming year. So it is vitally important that we provide Members of this body some financial relief for the costs of district office security improvements.

While the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee has the smallest budget of the thirteen Appropriations Subcommittees, and some would say that it is the least glamorous, its work is of vital importance to the entire nation.

As most of you know, the Subcommittee is responsible for the protection and preservation of the treasures in the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress, the publishing and dissemination of government information by the Government Printing Office, the objective analysis of our budget and economic decisions by the Congressional Budget Office, and the resources with which we provide representation to our constituents.

However, our collective effectiveness in representing our constituents is potentially at risk given the proposed reductions in our MRA's.

And I would like to remind my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, that after the tragic shootings in Tucson, Members were ``strongly encouraged'' to provide additional security for themselves, their staff and their constituents in the district--to be paid out of Members' accounts, with possibly some help from the Sergeant at Arms.

With this bill's cut of 6.4 percent in Members' Representational Allowance, combined with the 10 percent in the Sergeant at Arms budget, these improvements in security will be difficult.

Finally, if the Capitol Police are going to assess more threats against Members and take a more active role in district security, then their budget should also reflect these increased demands instead of being frozen.

Mr. Chair, I would also like to enter into the Record, a copy of an article that ran in Roll Call, highlighting the need for enhanced safety advancements for Members of Congress, their staffs, and constituencies.

I would ask that you support this important amendment. Thank you for your consideration.

[From Roll Call, July 21, 2011]

Cuts to Sergeant-at-Arms Raise Concerns for Some

(By Daniel Newhauser)

After the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) in

January, Members began looking into ways to secure their

district offices. Now, some Democrats are questioning whether

House leaders will give them enough money to do so.

Members' Representational Allowances and the House

Sergeant-at-Arms office face budget cuts, while House

appropriators have proposed flat funding for the Capitol

Police.

At a Rules Committee hearing Wednesday to set parameters

for this week's floor debate on the legislative branch

spending bill, Rep. Jared Polis--who said he received threats

as recently as last week--singled out those cuts as his main

concern.

``Security is hardly a luxury,'' the Colorado Democrat

said. ``How can you justify cutting the Sergeant-at-Arms by

10 percent?''

Although the Sergeant-at-Arms' budget appears larger than

it was last Congress, the increase actually comes because it

was combined with the Office of Emergency Management, which

was created after 9/11 to assist in emergency planning. That

office was flat-funded, while the Sergeant-at-Arms received

an $890,000 cut.

Rep. Ander Crenshaw, chairman of the Appropriations

Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, assured Polis that

the reduction would not affect security. In an interview

before the hearing, the Florida Republican said

administrative employees and equipment purchases would most

likely take the hit.

``We made sure that none of the cuts to this office were

going to affect any kind of safety issues,'' he said.

After the Giffords shooting, the Sergeant-at-Arms offered

Members free ADT Security assessments in the district

offices. The House Administration Committee also authorized

Members to use their MRAs to pay for suggested security

enhancements.

But between the 5 percent MRA cut of last fiscal year and

the 6.4 percent cut proposed for fiscal 2012--a reduction

that would average about $80,000 per office--Members might be

put in a situation where they have to choose to fire one

employee in order to afford to protect the rest, some

Democrats argued.

``We are told that we need to secure our district offices

more--for our safety, the safety of our staff and, most

importantly, the safety of our constituents,'' said Rep. Mike

Honda (D-Calif.), the subcommittee's ranking member, in a

statement. ``How are we supposed to pay for that?''

Rep. G.K. Butterfield said he had planned to install

bulletproof glass and a digital combination keypad lock at

his North Carolina district office, but now he's not so sure.

``That was the plan. Now that we've got this dramatic cut,

I don't know what we're going to do,'' the Democrat said.

Rep. Sanford Bishop said he's skeptical Members will be

left with enough money in their MRAs to pay for the upgrades.

He was advised to improve lighting and create a barrier

between his Georgia offices' public and work areas.

``The security assessments that the Sergeant-at-Arms paid

for for all of our offices were very, very telling. But to

implement the recommendations for the safety of our

constituents and Members and staffs, it's going to cost some

funds,'' the Democrat said. ``The MRA is not sufficient.''

Bishop has proposed an amendment to the legislative branch

bill that would reassign $1 million from a fund used to

assist freshmen in procuring furniture to create a fund

within the Capitol Police to assist in paying for district

security upgrades.

Sergeant-at-Arms spokeswoman Kern Hanley said that no

matter where the budget ends up, the agency would ``be able

to fully execute our security mission'' and that they will

help Members efficiently spend their money.

``We will coordinate the provision of professional security

assistance to Members by conducting surveys and reviewing

office selection options, security systems and policies to

aid them in achieving the best value for their security

dollars spent,'' Hanley said in an email.

Republicans said that is the real lesson of the budget cut:

Do more with less.

Rep. Michael Grimm, a former FBI agent, said Members can

mitigate the security impact of the cuts by raising their

awareness when they are at home.

``We have to be a little more efficient but also a little

more diligent so the Capitol Police has less work,'' the New

York Republican said. ``None of that costs money.''