Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of an educator, administrator, and all-around phenomenal woman, Ina Yvonne Whisenhunt Tillman, who passed away on August 8, 2023, at the age of 85.

Ina was born in Vredenburgh, Alabama, to the late Martha Packer Whisenhunt and Walter Carver Whisenhunt, Sr. Upon graduating high school, Ina followed her passion for education at Alabama State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education in 1960. Returning home from Montgomery as a teacher, Ina spent the next decade teaching in the Selma City School System.

As a college student, Ina was inspired to get involved in the fight for civil rights by influential activists like Thelma M. Glass and Attorney E.D. Nixon, who served as her professors and frequent speakers. When she returned to Selma, she continued to stay involved in the Movement, participating in numerous marches and demonstrations. She was a proud member of the Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, where she heard Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speak, solidifying her commitment to fighting for liberty, equality, and justice for all, especially the African-American community. Bringing her activism to her classroom, Ina bravely

took on the task as 1 of the first Black teachers to integrate Cedar Park Elementary School.

In 1971, Ina left home again, relocating to Mobile, AL, to advance her career in academia. She served as the Educational Director of Head Start in Pascagoula, MS, before transitioning into the Mobile County School System as a Title-IV Assistant Director and Chapter I Assistant Director. Ina made her mark as a dynamic educator and always worked to improve the lives of her students both inside and outside the classroom. Aspiring to become a principal, Ina continued her education at the University of South Alabama, earning her master's degree in 1974 and then at the University of Alabama for her associate's degree 2 years later.

Following a battle between local Black educators and the school system, where a judge ruled in favor of the educators regarding discriminatory hiring practices, Ina accomplished her goal, becoming the Assistant Principal of Mattie T. Blount High School. She later served as Principal of E.T. Belsaw/Mt. Vernon School until her retirement in 1995.

Throughout her life, Ina was an active member of her community, no matter where she relocated. She was a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; The Links, Incorporated; and Phi Delta Kappa.

She also received many awards and recognitions, including the Outstanding Educational Service Award from Blount High School; the Outstanding Educator Award from Phi Delta Kappa; the Top Career Woman of the Year in 1988; and the Area Director's Award from The Links, Inc.

Later in life, Ina expanded her community impact through the written word. She authored books and papers, even writing one on her life growing up in Selma, titled ``Just Live,'' a complication of short stories. Ina's penmanship led her to contribute to the Mobile Press- Register and win first place in the 1992 National Convention of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for her position paper.

Ina's is preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Willie James Whisenhunt and Walter Carver Whisenhunt, Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Felicia (Marvin); son, Joseph (Renunda); 6 grandchildren, Jeremy Populus Jones, Ari Clayton-Brinkley (Calvin), Kobi Jones, Mikah Jones, Charles Clayton, Chloe Jones; sister-in-law, Patricia Whisenhunt; 2 nephews, Bradley Whisenhunt and Corey Whisenhunt; 4 nieces, Angela Whisenhunt, Cheryl Whisenhunt Young (Kimmer), Denise Whisenhunt Carey (Rodney), and Erica Whisenhunt; 2 cousins, Mary Powell and Jacquitta Powell Green; 1 stepdaughter, Gracie M. Anderson (Brosofski); and a host of other family and friends.

On a personal note, my twin brothers and I affectionately called her ``T'Vonne''. Our families were close forever friends. Growing up in Selma, I have so many fond memories of the good times we enjoyed with her children. Her daughter ``Lisa'' and son ``Jojo'' were our childhood best friends. When those boys got together it was triple trouble. Even when they moved to Mobile, we continued to stay connected. Over the years, we have celebrated family triumphs and comforted each other during times of sorrow and pain. T'Vonne was like a second mother to me--always providing wise counsel and words of encouragement. She will be missed, but I know that her incredible legacy will live on in the many people she impacted.

On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of Ina Yvonne Whisenhunt Tillman for her contributions to generations of scholars and decades of exemplary service as an educator and community activist.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Executive Order No. 9981, which desegregated the U.S. Armed Forces.

It was in my home State of Alabama--I should say, ``our home State of Alabama''--in 1941 that 1,000 brave Black men trained at the great Tuskegee University to become the first Black pilots in U.S. history. They challenged the status quo by showing White pilots and U.S. military leadership that they were more than qualified to defend the United States in a combat role.

Segregation in the military finally ended on July 26, 1948, with President Truman's Executive Order No. 9981, but progress has been slow, Mr. Speaker. It took another 40 years before Colin Powell made history and became the first Black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Furthermore, it was just 2 years ago when Lloyd Austin was confirmed as the very first Black Secretary of Defense in our Nation's history.

The battle to end discrimination in the military is one that we are still fighting today. Just this month, House Republicans voted to strip diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from the Armed Forces, undermining decades of strides toward racial equality.

That is why, yesterday, I joined Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland in introducing a bill to finally codify nondiscrimination in the military. As our servicemembers risk their lives daily to protect our country, the least we can do is to protect them from discrimination.

I am immensely proud to honor the enormous contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen today. We must never forget the precious gift of freedom that is preserved because of their dedication and courage.

Mr. Speaker, today, I was unavoidably detained attending to important matters in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted NO on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question (H. Res. 614), NO on H. Res. 614, YES on Ryan Amendment No. 1, NO on Ogles Amendment No. 2, NO on Greene Amendment No. 3, NO on Greene Amendment No. 34, NO on Bost Amendment No. 35, NO on Rosendale Amendment No. 37, NO on Roy Amendment No. 38, NO on Roy Amendment No. 39, NO on Roy Amendment No. 40, and NO on Zinke Amendment No. 41.

Mr. Speaker, on July 25, 2023, I was unavoidably detained addressing important matters to my district. Had I been present, I would have voted yea on H.R. 1338, and yea on H.R. 4470.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment.

Like so many of the Republican amendments that were shockingly made in order, this is yet another tragic attempt to gut DOD of any efforts to increase diversity and decrease extremism.

Let me be clear: This provision will only hurt our national security and readiness. Some 41 percent of our military members are minorities, and that number will continue to grow. So it is unbelievable to me why my colleagues across the aisle are so opposed to ensuring that nearly half of our servicemen and -women feel seen, heard, and supported as they defend our country.

As we continue to face recruitment and retention challenges, we should be using every tool in the toolbox to recruit the best and the brightest. That means recruiting people of diverse backgrounds.

As a Black woman standing before you today, hear me when I say that this amendment is as harmful as it is hurtful.

We simply should not have to defend why diversity is our Nation's strength and yet, here we are. It is maddening, and it is dangerous.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, as a proud member of the House Committee on Armed Services and the Representative for critical military installations in Alabama, I take very seriously my responsibility to ensure that our servicemen and -women get the tools and support that they need to keep our Nation safe.

This year's NDAA, as it is currently written, does just that. The bill will help modernize Alabama's Air National Guard facilities and support leadership training at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

It also includes record funding to support research at HBCUs and makes significant investments in the health and well-being of our servicemen and -women and their families.

While I voted to pass the NDAA out of committee last month, I remain very concerned that my Republican colleagues are trying to push poison pill amendments--amendments focused on culture wars; not unity, but division, and not Social Security or Medicaid or our national security.

For 61 years, Congress has passed the NDAA with bipartisan support. I implore my colleagues across the aisle to not break this tradition of national importance.

Mr. Speaker, every year since I came to Congress, I have been proud to vote for the NDAA. I am not sure that I can vote in favor of it this year if those poison pills are included.

Mr. Speaker, I implore my Republican colleagues to keep the NDAA intact as it was from the committee. I will vote against the rule, but I hope to be able to vote in favor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, for centuries, African Americans were systematically denied the opportunity to pursue a higher education, build wealth, and achieve financial independence, leaving behind a painful legacy of discrimination that persists to this day.

Let us not forget. It was in 1963--only six decades ago--when Black students were finally allowed to enroll alongside their peers at the University of Alabama.

Almost half of the members serving in this be today were alive at that time.

Make no mistake--we have made tremendous progress since then. For the past four decade colleges and universities across this nation have had the freedom to build student bodies that reflect the diversity of our great nation.

With the blessing of the Supreme Court, these schools have used affirmative action policies as a tool to break down educational barriers for students who would otherwise be left behind.

Tragically, two weeks ago, in an extreme reversal, this Republican- controlled Court has

once again chosen to ignore our history and roll back our progress.

By banning affirmative action in college admissions, the Supreme Court has deprived us of a critical tool in our continued fight for equality and justice for all.

Not only is this decision a blatant attack on educational opportunity, it also upends nearly 40 years of precedent, undermining the sacred trust that the American people have placed in the Court.

From voting rights, to reproductive freedom, to educational opportunities, this Court has demonstrated time and time again that it is willing to ignore history, ignore precedent, and ignore common sense in order to strip away our freedoms and roll back our progress.

Mr. Speaker, we know that ignoring our past will not make it go away. In the words of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, ``deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life.''

If we are going to address the injustices of the past, we must be intentional about leveling the playing field and providing opportunities to those who have been left behind.

After all, our entire nation benefits when talented students of diverse backgrounds get a fair shot at success.

Despite this shameful decision, we must not be deterred. Let this decision serve as a reminder that progress is elusive, and every generation must fight to preserve the progress of the past and advance it.

Now is the time to redouble our efforts and to hold this nation accountable to its highest ideals of equality and justice for all.

Until every American can enjoy the full promise of our democracy, our work continues.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 277.

Madam Speaker, I rise to demand that Speaker McCarthy and my Republican colleagues in the House return so that we can pass a clean bill to prevent a devastating default.

Let me be very clear. We, as Members of Congress, have a solemn obligation to pay our Nation's bills and to protect the full faith and credit of the United States.

We have never defaulted on our debt, but this time, House Republicans are refusing to address the debt limit unless we cut serious programs that Alabama families that I represent need most, like veteran benefits and food assistance for our seniors and children.

Madam Speaker, this is a manufactured crisis. Republicans could pass a clean debt ceiling bill but chose not to. We passed such a bill three times under the Trump administration.

Today, Republicans have chosen to send us home instead of doing our job.

Our job is to protect the American people and to make sure that the full faith and credit of the American Government stands. It has never been in default and shouldn't be in default now. This is a dereliction of duty.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of a trailblazing public servant and educator, Selma Mayor George Patrick Evans, who passed away at the age of 78 on May 15.

A native of Selma, Alabama, Mayor Evans overcame great diversity and adversity to break down barriers for generations of leaders like myself to follow.

An educator, coach, basketball referee, principal, superintendent, city council president, and mayor, Evans wore many hats; but the common thread was service. He loved our hometown of Selma, Alabama, and he served her well.

He dedicated over 40 years to the Dallas County Public School System, cultivating an impactful career molding, teaching, coaching, and mentoring the youth of Selma and Dallas County.

In 1994, he made history again as the first African-American superintendent of Dallas County Public Schools.

He began his career in electoral politics in the Selma City Council. In this role, he brought the same passion, love of people and community, making history as the first African-American president of the Selma City Council.

In 2008, he earned more distinctions, as the second African-American mayor of the city of Selma in its 192-year history. During his two terms as Selma's mayor, Evans led the Queen City through the recession of 2008, the implementation of the city's optic fiber network, and helped address the lingering impact of segregation within Selma's community. I was proud to partner with Mayor Evans to bring vital Federal resources home to Selma and Dallas County.

From his demonstrated efforts to revitalize downtown Selma to his commitment to making our community safer and stronger, Mayor Evans fought hard to improve the lives of the people he served. His foresight propelled the city of Selma forward and cemented his legacy as a trusted leader in our community.

On a personal note, I have known Mayor Evans all my life. I even served as his family's babysitter during my youth. Mayor Evans has always been a man of great character and honor whose love of God, family, and community has been his guiding principle.

Through all of his accomplishments, he has led by example through his hard work, perseverance, grit, and kindness. His public service has left an indelible imprint on the city of Selma, and we will miss him terribly.

Let us not weep, but find comfort in knowing that his incredible legacy will live on in the many people he touched.

On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of Selma's mayor, George Patrick Evans, for his decades of service to the city of Selma, Dallas County, and the entire State of Alabama. May he rest in peace and power.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of a trailblazing public servant and educator, former Selma Mayor George Patrick Evans, who passed away at the age of 78 on May 15, 2023.

A native of Selma, Mayor Evans was a proud product of the Selma City School System. He began his higher education at St. Mary's College in Dodge City, KS, earning his Bachelor of Arts in speech and physical therapy in 1962. Shortly after graduation he returned to Selma, where his passion for education led him to teach at Tipton High School in Dallas County. He continued his education while teaching, receiving a Master of Education in Educational Administration from Livingston State University and an Educational Specialist Certification in Educational Administration from Troy State University

Dedicating over 40 years to the Dallas County School System, Mayor Evans held many roles, including Principal, Assistant Principal, Coach, and Right to Read Coordinator. Transitioning from the classroom into upper management, he served as the Dallas County Board of Education Federal Program Coordinator for 9 years and served as Superintendent for 5 years. Mayor Evans' impactful career as an educator led him to break barriers as the first African American Superintendent of Dallas County public schools and Chief Academic Officer of the Alabama State Department of Education.

Bringing the same passion and tenacity into his career in electoral politics, Mayor Evans blazed trails in the Selma City Council, becoming its first African American City Council President. In his words, ``good things kept happening at that time,'' making history as the second African American Mayor in the City of Selma's 192-year history. As Mayor for two terms, he showed his skill as a public servant leading the Queen City through the recession of 2008, a 12-percent municipal salary cut, and boldly addressing the lingering impact of segregation within Selma's communities. His foresight propelled Selma forward, implementing the City's optic fiber network and ``butterfly park'' to allow tourists an unobstructed view of the Alabama River and the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge.

As a trusted leader in the Selma community, Mayor Evans served on the board of numerous organizations, including a member of the Executive Committee of the Alabama League of Municipalities, Chairman of the Alabama Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees, Wells- Fargo, then Wachovia Bank Board of Directors and AMFund Board of Directors. A man of faith he worshiped at the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Selma, and served as an Elder and Clerk of Session. His additional civic affiliations include the SeLma Exchange Club, Twelve High Club, Chesterfield Club, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

Mayor Evans was known for his love of basketball and received numerous awards for his contribution to expanding the sport in Alabama. From 1979 to 2010, he served as the men's basketball official and officiating coordinator for the Southwestern Athletic Conference, leading him to an induction into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame. He served on the AHSAA Bryant-Jordan Student Athletic Program Scholarship Committee and the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

Mayor Evans is survived by his beloved wife, fellow educator, and nurse Jeannie Evans; sons, Patrick, Duane, and Byron; and

grandchildren, Erin, Pailee, Pilar, Eden, Paxson George, Patrick Jr., Kelly, and Tremaine.

On a personal note, as a native of Selma, I have known Mayor Evans all my life and even worked as the family babysitter during my youth. Mayor Evans has always been a man of great character and honor, whose love of God, family, and community has been his guiding principle. From being Dallas County's first Black school board superintendent to his 16 years of public service as President of the Selma City Council and then as Mayor, Evans led by example through his hard work, perseverance, grit, and kindness.

During his tenure as Mayor, he partnered with my office to bring vital federal resources home to Selma and Dallas County. From his demonstrated efforts to revitalize downtown Selma to his dedicated commitment to making our community stronger and safer, Mayor Evans fought hard to improve the lives of the people he served. His public service has left an indelible imprint on Selma, and he will be missed. Let us find comfort in knowing his incredible legacy will live on in the many people he touched. May he rest in peace and power.

On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of an exceptional public servant, Selma's former Mayor, George Patrick Evans, for his decades of service to the City of Selma, Dallas County, and the entire State of Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, on May 22, 2023, I was unavoidably detained in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted Yes on Rollcall No. 228 (H.R. 1076) and YES on Rollcall No. 229 (H.R. 1156).

Mr. Speaker, on the afternoon of May 16, 2023, I was unavoidably detained in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted NO on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question for H. Res. 398 and NO on H. Res. 398.

Mr. Speaker, on the afternoon of May 15, 2023, I was unavoidably detained in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 213 and YEA on Roll Call No. 214.

Mr. Speaker, on the afternoon of April 19, 2023, I was unavoidably detained in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Passage of H.J. Res. 42, and YEA on H.R. 1149.