Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Inflation Reduction Act.

This transformational legislation will lower healthcare costs for millions of Americans and thousands of Alabamians by extending ACA tax credits for an additional 3 years and reducing the prescription drug costs for our seniors by allowing HHS, for the first time, to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and capping out-of-pocket drug costs to $2,000 per year. This is a big deal for American families and especially the families that I represent in Alabama.

This bill is also the single largest climate investment in America's history. This bill includes my Carbon Capture and Sequestration Expansion Act that will extend the 45 credit eligibilities for carbon capture projects to 2023.

When I think about all the great things that are in this particular bill, it is truly transformational for the people that I represent and for the American people.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill. Let's put people first over politics.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Mrs. Romay Catherine Johnson Davis, who was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for her extraordinary service to our Nation as one of the women of the ``Six Triple Eight'' postal battalion during World War II.

At the age of 102, Mrs. Davis is the oldest living member of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion of the United States Army. Throughout World War II, this dedicated group of African-American women sorted mail and care packages to maintain the morale of American soldiers stationed abroad.

Helping to sort 65,000 pieces of mail every shift, Mrs. Davis and her colleagues worked tirelessly to uphold the battalion's motto: ``No mail, low morale.''

Mrs. Davis is a trailblazer for African-American women everywhere, and it is befitting that her award comes on the 74th anniversary of the integration of the armed services.

I was proud to vote in favor of the bill to award the Six Triple Eight postal battalion to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow.

I ask my colleagues to join me and the Montgomery community in celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of Mrs. Romay Catherine Johnson Davis.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the passage of H.R. 3222, the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Act, which passed this House by a vote of 365-57.

As a daughter of Alabama's historic Black Belt, I am proud to be the lead sponsor of this legislation to ensure that this region's meaningful history is preserved for generations to come. As the birthplace of the civil rights and voting rights movements, the Black Belt represents the tireless efforts of the foot soldiers to end discrimination against African Americans and the continued struggle for full racial equality in our Nation.

This new designation will not only bring about national attention to the rich history and culture of Alabama's Black Belt, but it will also increase tourism, investment, and economic opportunity for many of the rural communities that I so proudly represent.

I thank Senator Shelby for leading this bipartisan legislation in the Senate, and I also thank the University of West Alabama and the National Parks Conservation Association for their tireless work to promote this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I urge the Senate to pass H.R. 3222 as soon as possible.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exemplary service of Colonel Nathan Mooney II, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Dwight D. Eisenhower School of National Security, who is retiring from the military on July 15, 2022, after more than 30 years of faithful service to the United States Armed Forces. Colonel Mooney obtained two bachelor's degrees in management and business administration from Troy State University in 1989. He went to Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL where he earned a master's

degree in military operational arts and sciences at the Air Command and Staff College. Continuing to diversify his education, the Colonel received a master's in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C., and a master's in human relations from the University of Oklahoma.

Beginning his career in the military as a Second Lieutenant in 1989, Colonel Mooney quickly moved up the ranks, becoming a First Lieutenant by 1991 and a Captain by 1993. Assuming the positions of Major in 2001 and Lieutenant Colonel in 2006, he has dutifully served as Colonel for the past 11 years.

Throughout his extensive career, Colonel Mooney has held a variety of logistics positions at the wing level and has extensive staff experience at the major command level, Headquarters Air Force and Joint Staff Levels, including Assistant Director of Global Logistics Strategy at the Pentagon, Director of Operations and Logistics Alaskan Command Headquarters and Senior Operations Manager at Luke Air Force Base. Before assuming his current position as Department Chair and Assistant Professor at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., Colonel Mooney served as the Vice President of Logistics and Engineering and Force Protection Air Force Space Command Headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. In this position, he led a 100- member logistics and engineering team and spearheaded the policy and guidance for a 9 billion space lift and satellite program, which supported 38,000 space professionals and 130 space systems located at over 100 sites worldwide.

Using his plethora of leadership experience from his previous roles, Colonel Mooney now serves our country in a different way in his role as an assistant professor at the National Defense University. He has remained dedicated to preparing his students for success following graduation teaching graduate-level courses to 300 high-performing senior military officers, international fellows, and Department of Defense and Agency civilians annually.

As the Deputy Director, he led military and civilian personnel responsible for the maintenance and lifecycle sustainment of 130 space and cyber systems through the executing a $1.5B Weapon System Sustainment budget. He oversaw the programming and policy implementation for the command's $23B physical plants, which includes 29 million square feet of facilities, seven major installations and two coastal Space launch ranges. In addition, he directed policy development for the command's integrated defense, resource protection and physical security activities in support of 2,100 security forces members and 20 high priority resources.

Colonel Mooney's extensive military career has earned him multiple awards and decorations throughout the years, including the Legion of Merit Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze star, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.

On a personal note, Nathan is a childhood friend from Selma and a dear personal friend who grew up in the same neighborhood as me and my brothers. Nathan has always been a smart, focused, and purpose-driven individual. Through hard work, natural abilities, faith, and the loving support of his wife, Chevette, Nathan has been a valued member of our military and a tremendous patriot. Words cannot express how proud I am of Nathan and his meritorious service to this nation, and I wish him the very best in his future endeavors. We are a safer and more secure nation because of his exemplary service.

On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District and a grateful Nation, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the extraordinary leadership and service of Colonel Nathan Mooney II and his contributions to this Nation as a distinguished member of the United States Air Force.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Montgomery County Commissioner Elton Dean, who passed away at the age of 72 on June 7, 2022.

A native of Alabama's Seventh Congressional District, Chairman Dean graduated from Montgomery's own George Washington Carver High School before attending Selma University, where he received his associate's degree.

Returning to Montgomery, Chairman Dean pursued his bachelor of science at the Alabama State University, where he graduated in 1971 with a degree in business and economics.

Chairman Dean went on to become a successful businessman, putting to work his entrepreneurial spirit to serve and improve his community as owner of Dean Realty as well as 21st Century Hair Studio.

In November 2000, Chairman Dean was first elected to the Montgomery County Commission, where he humbly and faithfully served the Second District for over 20 years. Dean was elected vice chairman in November 2004 before making history in March 2009 as the first African American to serve as chair of the Montgomery County Commission. Montgomery County includes the historic city of Montgomery, Alabama.

Known as a dedicated public servant and passionate community leader, Chairman Dean's legacy lives on in the countless projects and initiatives that came into fruition under his leadership, including the implementation of Montgomery County's back-to-school sales tax holiday.

Chairman Dean is also known for bringing the commission meetings to the people by holding his ``On the Road'' initiative, which allowed constituents to meet directly with their representatives.

Chairman Dean worked tirelessly to improve Montgomery County's economic well-being. Among his most notable achievements, he oversaw the implementation of the 1 percent sales tax in 2001, which generated over $428 million for public education in Montgomery County, delivering critically needed resources to the children of our community.

Chairman Dean never missed an opportunity to give back. Throughout his adult life, he held countless positions, including serving on boards and organizations throughout Montgomery County, which included as executive board member of the South Central Alabama Boys and Girls Club as well as board member for the Montgomery Improvement Association, board member for the Central Alabama Community Foundation, and chairman of the trustee board and mass choir member of Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. He was commissioner of the Central Alabama Amateur Baseball League and commissioner of the Southern League Dixie Youth Baseball.

A very strong advocate for his alma mater, Chairman Dean returned to the Alabama State University later in life to serve as chairman of the board of trustees for the Alabama State University. In this role, he served for 9 years and generated $525 million worth of campus improvement.

In his role as chairman of the board of trustees for Alabama State University, I got to know Chairman Dean because he gave me, as a young bond lawyer, the opportunity to represent my parents' alma mater, the Alabama State University.

It was Chairman Dean who encouraged me to run for Congress, and for his mentorship and his friendship, I am forever grateful.

Chairman Dean rightfully received numerous awards throughout the community: the Pioneer Award by The Montgomery Tuskegee Times; the Montgomery County Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman's Award in 2012; the Citizen of the Year Award by the Sigma Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in 2004; the Citizen of the Year Award by Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Montgomery's Alumni Chapter; as well as the Kershaw YMCA Man of the Year.

Chairman Dean was a true public servant and a servant leader. Though I know so many of us are heartbroken by his passing, I am eternally grateful for our partnership on behalf of the citizens of Montgomery County, Alabama, and blessed to have been guided by his mentorship as well as his friendship over the years.

May his family find comfort in knowing that Elton Dean's legacy will live on in the hearts of all those he impacted. As we mourn his passing, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of Montgomery County Commission Chairman Elton Dean.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary accomplishments of legal scholar, attorney, jurist, and public servant, Judge Charles Price.

A native of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, Judge Price is a graduate of Carver High School in Montgomery, Alabama. Upon graduation, he served six years in the United States Army--three years with the Green Beret Special Forces and three years with the 82nd Airborne Division. After discharge, he continued to serve his country by joining the United States Army Reserve. Retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, Judge Advocate General's Corps, he received numerous Meritorious Service Medals, awards, and commendations for his faithful service to our country.

Judge Price continued his education at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia, before earning his law degree with honors from the George Washington School of Law in Washington, D.C. After completing his education, he began his legal career in the Civil Division at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

Moving back to his home state of Alabama, in 1973, Judge Price became the Assistant Attorney General for the State of Alabama. The following year, he made history, becoming the first Black District Attorney for Escambia County and the only Black district attorney in the country. Showing his skill as a legal scholar and jurist, Judge Price went on to serve as the Deputy District Attorney for Montgomery County in 1975 before entering the private practice in 1978.

Reentering public service in 1982, Judge Price was appointed Assistant Municipal Judge for the City of Montgomery. Continuing to break down barriers, Judge Price made history again in 1983 after Governor George Wallace appointed him as Montgomery County Circuit Judge, making him the first Black person to hold the position in Montgomery County. After serving for one year, he won the election to his first six-year term in 1984, winning reelection in 1990 and 1996. Judge Price retired after 32 years on the bench on January 9, 2015.

Outside of his career in the courtroom, Judge Price expanded his legacy into the classroom serving as an adjunct professor of Political Science and Criminal Justice at Alabama State University, adjunct professor of law at Jones School of Law and at the University of Alabama Law School, and member of the Board of Trustees at Tuskegee University. He has two honorary doctorates; one for law from the University of West Alabama in 2001 and the other in Christian Humanities from the Global Evangelical Christian College and Seminary in 2005.

As a vibrant member of his community, Judge Price is a proud member of the St. John's African Methodist Episcopal Church in Montgomery, where he serves as a steward and Sunday school teacher. His civic affiliations include Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Phi Boule Fraternity, Inc., President of the Montgomery Trial Lawyers Association, President of the Alabama Circuit Judge's Association, member of the National Bar Association, the Alabama State Bar Association, the Alabama Lawyers Association, the Montgomery County Bar Association, and the Capital City Bar Association. Judge Price has also served as president of the Alabama Circuit Judges Association and Presiding Judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit.

Known for his fairness, integrity, and dedication to the law, Judge Price has received numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious 1997 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Humanitarian Award in 1998, Attorney Johnnie Cochran Soaring Eagle Award, and the Ernestine S. Sapp Award presented by the Black Law Students Association (BALSA) at the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law in 2008. He is also the recipient of the 2000 National Bar Association's Raymond Pace Alexander Award and in 2006 the Association's Wiley Branton Award. In 2009, the Montgomery County Court House was dedicated as the Phelps-Price Justice Center in memory of Judge Joseph Phelps and in honor of Judge Price. That same year he received the Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award from the Imperial Council of the Prince Hall Shriners.

On a personal note, Judge Price has always been a trusted mentor and source of wise counsel and wisdom. His daughter Susan and I were college schoolmates at Princeton. I am so grateful for the way his family embraced me as one of their own. As a trailblazer and legal icon, Judge Price is a true inspiration and admiration for so many of us. Congratulations to Judge Price for your significant contributions to the City of Montgomery and the State of Alabama.

On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the extraordinary career of a legal powerhouse, Judge Price, for his decades of service to the State of Alabama and this nation.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today to join the city of Selma, Alabama, in celebrating May 14, 2022, as Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. Day, honoring the extraordinary contributions of civil rights leader, activist, and advocate of nonviolence Reverend Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr.

Dr. LaFayette made his mark in history as a civil rights organizer, minister, educator, and lecturer whose contributions to the civil rights movement have garnered him national recognition as a leading authority on the strategy of nonviolent social change.

As a student advocate in the 1960s, he played a leading role in the early organizing of the Selma voting rights movement. Dr. LaFayette was an active participant in the sit-in campaign and the Nashville student movement, and he worked closely throughout the 1960s with groups such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, SNCC, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, SCLC, and the American Friends Service Committee.

Dr. LaFayette began his activism as a student at American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was taught by teacher and SCLC mentor James Lawson the techniques of nonviolence.

Dr. LaFayette learned alongside fellow students John Lewis, James Bevel, and Diane Nash before participating in the Nashville student lunch counter sit-ins in the 1960s.

From there, his passion for civil rights continued to blossom, leading him to become one of the cofounders of SNCC, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

As a director of SNCC's Alabama voter registration project in 1962, Dr. LaFayette relocated to my hometown of Selma, Alabama, where he worked with the Dallas County Voters League to open voter registration clinics throughout the city of Selma.

Gaining a reputation as a fiery organizer and passionate proponent of nonviolence, Dr. LaFayette expanded his work from Alabama to Chicago, working with the American Friends Service Committee, Dr. Martin Luther King, and the SCLC's Chicago campaign.

He later became an ordained Baptist minister and served as president of his alma mater, the American Baptist Theological Seminary.

Dr. LaFayette is recognized as one of the leading proponents of nonviolent direct action in the world. He has taught and preached the philosophy of nonviolence in many colleges and universities across the globe.

He was the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, including from Mount Holyoke College, the University of Rhode Island, and Antioch College's Coretta Scott King Center for Cultural and Intellectual Freedom.

Dr. LaFayette has written several books about his experience in the civil rights movement and books covering his views and thoughts on nonviolence. These books include ``The Leaders Manual: A Structured Guide and Introduction to Kingian Nonviolence,'' ``The Briefing Booklet: An Orientation to the Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation Program,'' and most recently, ``In Peace and Freedom: My Journey in Selma.''

For over 50 years, Dr. LaFayette has remained dedicated to equality and justice for all, lecturing at various universities and traveling internationally to train the next generation on how to achieve social change using the philosophy of Dr. King and nonviolence.

I ask my colleagues to join me and the citizens of the city of Selma and Dallas County, Alabama, in declaring May 14, 2022, as Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. Day in celebration of the extraordinary life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr., an Alabama gem and an American treasure.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of Princeton Baptist Medical Center and Baptist Health System.

Though the history of Princeton Baptist Medical Center begins in 1922, the framework of the hospital, dates back to 1906 with the establishment of Birmingham Infirmary by Dr. William Christopher Gewin. Specializing in compassionate care in a Christian environment, Birmingham Infirmary was a pioneering medical center in the city of Birmingham, serving as the city's first training school for nurses.

By 1922, the Birmingham Baptist Association assumed ownership of Birmingham Infirmary, making it the first time any local Baptist association owned a hospital. As a faith-based hospital, Birmingham Baptist Hospital, now Princeton Baptist Medical Center, built its organization on the premise that it would provide service to patients regardless of their ability to pay. During their first day of operation, Princeton served 39 patients, with 11 more admitted by the day's end without any operating capital.

Ten years later, in 1930, the Princeton Baptist Medical Center leased a second location previously owned by one of the original medical staff, Dr. Seale Harris, who originally built and began operating the residential hospital. After acquiring another facility, the Baptist Health System began rapidly expanding, undergoing multiple major hospital expansions and renovations. As the hospital infrastructure started to grow, its network was not far behind, expanding to meet the needs of its patients by adding new departments to expand critical services and conducting clinical research to stay abreast with the latest medical advancements.

During World War II, Princeton Baptist Medical Center became the first hospital in the region to have a United States Cadet Nurse Corps unit hosting over 100 students. By the 1960s, they continued building upon their esteemed reputation by performing pioneering brain surgery at Princeton Baptist Medical Center, becoming one of the first hospitals in the city to desegregate its wards, and introducing the use of automation in their laboratories.

With growth as a cornerstone, during the 1990s, additional hospitals joined Princeton Baptist to build one of the state's largest and most comprehensive networks of acute care hospitals and a true community of care; a network that was strengthened in 2015 through a partnership with Brookwood Medical Center to create the five-hospital system of Brookwood Baptist Health.

Upholding its ``high tech and high touch'' reputation, Princeton Baptist Medical Center has stayed at the forefront of technology, staffing the hospital with present-day pioneers bringing cutting-edge health care to the people of the north and central Alabama.

From its humble beginnings in 1922, Princeton Baptist Medical center has upheld its rich legacy of medical ministry by staying active in the community through education. Noted as a teaching hospital, Princeton Baptist Medical Center has several educational programs, becoming the first health care system in the United States to implement a pastoral education program and student internship. Now Princeton continues to provide these transformational opportunities by hosting multiple residency programs, creating the Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing at Samford University and the Princeton Baptist Achievers Program, a mentoring/scholarship program for high school students interested in healthcare.

Working to provide the most efficient, cost-effective, and patient- friendly care, Princeton Baptist Medical Center now has a medical staff of more than 230 physicians, an additional 1,700 employees, and 505- licensed hospital beds. As the first hospital under Brookwood Baptist Health, Princeton Medical Center is a centerpiece to the state's largest health care system providing innovative and compassionate care to all patients.

On a personal note, my family and I have experienced Princeton Baptist Medical Center's compassionate care firsthand. Their doctors, nurses, administrators, and other health care professionals provided excellent care while giving us the support and resources we needed to get well. They were God-sent, and the Sewell family is eternally grateful.

On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 100th anniversary of Princeton Baptist Medical Center and its vital contributions to the medical profession and the health and well-being of the Birmingham community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the leadership and extraordinary accomplishments of Art Franklin, who is stepping down from his position as co-lead anchor of the CBS 42 Evening News on April 29, 2022.

A native of Detroit, Art is a graduate of the University of Michigan. Upon completing his education, he began his broadcasting career at the WDZZ-FM 93 radio station in Flint, Michigan, before leaving to join the WILX-TV 10, the NBC station in Lansing, Michigan. While at WlLX, Art worked as a Capital Reporter and Business Reporter becoming the first African American male in Lansing to regularly anchor a broadcast newscast.

Continuing to work within the NBC network, Art transitioned to WAVY- TV 10 in Norfolk, Virginia, where he served as the station's military affairs correspondent and anchor of the Bottom Line, the station's public service program. In addition to regularly reporting from the Pentagon, Art also began covering international assignments traveling to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and the Caribbean. As a trailblazer in broadcast journalism, Art continued to make history upon moving to Birmingham in 1991, becoming Birmingham's first primetime African American male anchor during his 12 years at WBRC-TV. Throughout his career, Art reported on major world events such as the conflict in the Persian Gulf, the 9-11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, and the terrorist attack at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He also transitioned to political reporting, covering several United States presidents, including Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.

Leaving Birmingham in 2003, Art moved to Atlanta joining another NBC affiliate, WXIA 11 Alive News, before becoming an anchor at WAGA-TV FOX5. Though he left television to start a Public Relations firm, Art's passion and dedication to his craft brought him back to Birmingham to launch the CBS 42 Morning News with Art Franklin. While at CBS 42, Art has served as a managing editor and as anchor of the 4:00 P.M., 5:00 P.M., 6:00 P.M., and 10:00 P.M. newscast.

For over three decades, Art has immersed himself in the world of journalism, serving in exclusive positions such as the producer of the National Association of Black Journalists Awards show, which aired on Black Entertainment Television (BET) and guest journalism instructor at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Diversifying his career outside of journalism, Art has served as the C.E.O. of 285 Records, an Atlanta based independent record company; background actor for multiple award-winning television shows including How to Get Away with Murder and Greys Anatomy. He is also the author of the book Give It All You Got and the founder of the Art Franklin Collection, a clothing line of male clothing, accessories, and custom suits. As a vibrant member of his community, his civic affiliations include board member of the Jefferson County Family Resource Center and member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Art has received over 100 community and journalism awards for his exemplary career and contributions to the journalism profession, including most notably, an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement for spotnews coverage in Atlanta in 2005, and most recently an Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Innovation as anchor of CBS 42's Coronavirus House Calls in 2021. Art is also the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Television Programming Excellence Award in 1995, Scrips Howard Excellence in journalism Award in 1994, RTNDA Best Documentary in 1994, and Alabama Associated Press Award for the Best Documentary in 1994, and Best Reporter in 1995. Securing his place in history as one of the best news anchors of a generation, in 2017, Art was named Alabama's Best News Anchor by the Alabama Broadcasting Association. In 2019, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle recognized him for over 25 years in the industry.

On a personal note, Art has always been the consummate professional. His mere presence on air has been a source of great inspiration for little black boys and girls in Alabama. Art delivers the news with clarity and purpose which has made him my ``go-to'' anchor for the nightly news. We will miss him on CBS 42, but I know that Art will continue to make significant contributions to our community. I congratulate Art, and extend best wishes in all of his future endeavors.

On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the extraordinary career of Art Franklin and his exemplary contributions to broadcast journalism.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a pioneer of broadcast journalism, news anchor Art Franklin, who will be making his departure from CBS 42 in Birmingham, Alabama, on Friday, April 29.

Art Franklin is a multiple Emmy Award-winning journalist whose broadcast career has spanned more than 38 years and earned him more than 100 community and journalism awards, including two Emmy Awards. And, most recently, he was awarded an Edward R. Murrow Award in 2021 for excellence in innovation as anchor of CBS 42's Coronavirus House Calls.

Art currently anchors the CBS 42 Evening News at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m., after returning to Birmingham to anchor the CBS 42 Morning News with Art Franklin, and served as a managing editor.

Art first came to Birmingham in 1991 and spent 12 years at WBRC-TV, where he was a trailblazer, becoming Birmingham's first African- American male to anchor in prime time.

During his career of almost four decades, Art has worked as a radio announcer, a radio news director, a production manager, a talk show host of both radio and television, a television news producer, host of a television public affairs show, and the producer of the National Association of Black Journalist Awards show that was aired on BET.

In addition to his time as a journalist, Art was the CEO of Atlanta- based independent record company 285 Records.

The author of a book, ``Give It All You Got,'' Art launched in 2021 the Art Franklin Collection, a clothing line of men's ties, bow ties, shirts, and custom suits.

Art sits on numerous boards in the State of Alabama. He is an avid cook and tennis player, and he is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Art Franklin for his extraordinary career and contributions to broadcast journalism.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate Art. We in Birmingham are so proud of all that he has done, and we wish him much luck in his endeavors.

Recognizing Princeton Baptist Medical Center's 100th Anniversary

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of Princeton Baptist Medical Center and Baptist Health System in Birmingham, Alabama.

For a century, the Princeton Baptist Medical Center has been dedicated to serving the most vulnerable in our communities by prioritizing community health and expanding access to healthcare.

As a faith-based hospital, Princeton was built on the premise that it would provide services to patients, regardless of their ability to pay. During its first day of operation, Princeton served 39 patients, with 11 more admitted by the day's end, without any operating capital.

Since then, the Princeton Baptist Medical Center began expanding rapidly, undergoing multiple major hospital renovations. As the hospital's infrastructure grew, so did its network, expanding to meet the needs of its patients by adding new departments to expand critical services and research, as well as to keep abreast of the latest medical developments.

During the 1990s, additional hospitals joined Princeton Baptist to build one of our State's largest and most comprehensive network of acute-care hospitals: The Brookwood Baptist Health.

Since its humble beginnings, Princeton Baptist Medical Center has remained active in the community, hosting several residency and mentoring programs. It even became the first healthcare center in the United States to implement a pastoral education program and student internship.

Now, with more than 230 physicians, an additional 1,700 employees, and 505 licensed hospital beds, Princeton Baptist Medical Center continues to be a centerpiece in our Birmingham community. I am honored to be their partner in our fight to expand healthcare access to all Alabamians.

I am proud to honor Princeton Baptist Medical Center for its profound contributions to our community as they celebrate 100 years of service.

Madam Speaker, I thank Princeton Baptist Medical Center.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a true civil rights pioneer, Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, ahead of what would have been his 100th birthday on Friday, March 18.

Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth was a civil rights activist who led the fight against segregation and other forms of racism as a minister in Birmingham, Alabama. He was a cofounder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, initiated and was instrumental in the 1963 Birmingham campaign, also known as Project C, for confrontation, to desegregate the city of Birmingham.

Regarded as one of the most courageous civil rights fighters in the South by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Reverend Shuttlesworth was a fearless freedom fighter who always stood up for what is right.

Shuttlesworth participated in the sit-ins against segregated lunch counters in 1960 and took part in the organization and completion of the Freedom Riders in 1961.

Throughout his amazing career, despite experiencing violent intimidation and numerous attempts on his life, Reverend Shuttlesworth remained vigilant in his fight for civil rights. The noted pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church is recognized as the key leader and organizer of the civil rights movement in Birmingham, Alabama.

In recognition of his lifelong dedication, President Clinton awarded Reverend Shuttlesworth the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001. Shortly after, in 2008, the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport was named in his honor.

Although Reverend Shuttlesworth died at the age of 89 on October 5 of 2011, he has a long list of accomplishments. To that, the city of Birmingham is designating this Friday, March 18, as the Reverend Shuttlesworth Day in honor of the 100th anniversary of his birthday.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and the city of Birmingham to pay tribute to the extraordinary life and legacy of Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth as we designate March 18 as Reverend Shuttlesworth Day.

Honoring Mrs. Beatrice Price

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life and legacy of Beatrice Price, a pioneering Army nurse to the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, who passed away at the age of 98 on March 4, 2022.

Joining the military shortly after completing nursing school, Mrs. Price

honorably served alongside the legendary Tuskegee Airmen until her discharge in 1948.

A trailblazer and pioneer in the field of nursing, Mrs. Price had a stellar 42-year career in nursing, spending more than 34 years working at the Birmingham VA Medical Center where she once again cared for our servicemen and servicewomen with great distinction until her retirement in January of 1988.

On a personal note, Mrs. Price was a source of great inspiration for me and so many young women. She was devoted to her church, her family, and her service to this Nation. A woman of tremendous faith, Mrs. Price served honorably during World War II alongside the legendary Tuskegee Airmen.

As Alabama's first Black Congresswoman, it was my high honor to bestow upon her a Congressional Gold Medal for her courage, bravery, and exemplary service. I was also thrilled to host Mrs. Price in Washington at the State of the Union in 2013.

For her many accomplishments, Mrs. Price was always gracious, always compassionate, and always humble. I am eternally grateful for our friendship, her mentorship, and our special bond. I thank her family for sharing her with the world.

May we find comfort in knowing that she lived a full and blessed life. Her legacy will live on in the hearts and actions of those she impacted. Rest in peace and power, thy good and faithful servant.

On behalf of Alabama's Seventh Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the extraordinary life and legacy of Mrs. Beatrice Price and her tremendous service to this Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life and legacy of Beatrice Muse Price, a pioneering Army nurse to the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, who passed away at age 98 on March 4, 2022.

Mrs. Price was born the second of six children on January 21, 1924, in Bessemer, Alabama, to the late Henry and Frances Muse. Graduating from Hale County Training School, she went on to attend Grady Memorial School of Nursing in Atlanta, Georgia, where she graduated in 1944 as a Registered Nurse. She continued her education at the University of Maryland, Tuskegee University, and Miles College.

Mrs. Price began her career in nursing, serving as a chief nurse for a private hospital in Detroit, Michigan. She then joined the Army Nurses Corps in WWII, serving as a 2nd Lieutenant then later as 1st Lieutenant. During her time in the military, Mrs. Price was assigned to care for the famed Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American military aviator unit in the United States Army. From 1944 to 1948, Mrs. Price showed exemplary courage and service to the Tuskegee Airmen, earning her the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal along with the men she cared for. Her heroic military service to our country broke many barriers for future generations of Black nurses.

Mrs. Price had a stellar 42-year career in nursing. After her discharge in 1948, she went on to work in the U.S. Public Health Service for three years. Then, she spent the next 34 years working as a nurse at the Birmingham VA Medical Center. She was ultimately promoted to be the Night Nursing Supervisor, a position she held for twenty years until she retired on January 2, 1988.

Mrs. Price received countless awards for her remarkable leadership and contributions to the nursing profession. In 1985, VA department heads in Birmingham selected Mrs. Price as the first recipient of the distinguished Administrator's Award for Excellence in Nursing. In 2011, Mrs. Price was selected by America's oral history project, StoryCorps, to create an audio recording of her incredible life story. She also received national recognition in 2013, from the international Black nurse's sorority. Chi Eta Phi, for being a True Nursing Pioneer.

Throughout her life, Mrs. Price was a faithful servant leader. She was an active member of the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, serving for over sixty years as a member of the Deaconess Board, founder of the Wellness Ministry, and co-founder of a Sunday School class.

Mrs. Price is preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, Charles E. Price, Sr; parents Henry and Mary Frances Muse; sister, Ruth Outland; two brothers Eugene Muse and Theodore Muse, Sr.; two stepdaughters Norma Jean Price and Charlotte Price; and granddaughter, April Price. She is survived by one daughter Gill Hickman (G. Michael); two sons Joseph Diop (Betty Ann) and Michael Price (Anita); two surrogate daughters Karen Beverly West (John ``Bev'') and Amelia Jones; a daughter-in-law Sherrell Price; one brother Henry Muse, Sr. (Eulasteen); one sister Annie Bell Dawson; ten grandchildren Angela Terry (Anthony), Kimberly Crago (Stephen), Michael B. Hickman, Bennie Stephen Hurst (Frederica), Mannye Franklin (Preston), Arianne Price, Ashley Price, Tyler Price, Serena James, and Yolanda Roberts; one surrogate granddaughter Anniko ``Nicole'' Richardson (Jay); seven nieces and nephews John Outland, Jr. (Patricia), Monica Chambers, Kenneth Muse, Theodore Muse Jr. (Marquita), Arleen Livingston, Darlene Davis, Anita Muse; best friend and colleague Juanita Hixon; dear friends Leona Steward and Veronica Pettway; and a host of great- grandchildren, cousins, friends and church members.

On a personal note, Mrs. Price was a source of great inspiration for me and so many young black women. A trailblazer and pioneer in the field of nursing, she was devoted to her church, her family, and her service to this nation. A woman of tremendous faith, Mrs. Price served honorably during World War II alongside the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. As Alabama's first Black Congresswoman, it was my high honor to bestow upon her a Congressional Gold Medal for her courage, bravery, and exemplary service. I was also elated to host Mrs. Price in Washington at the State of the Union in 2013. For all of her accomplishments, Mrs. Price was always gracious, sweet, compassionate, and humble--always helping others with a smile and an extended hand. I am eternally grateful for our friendship, mentorship, and special bond. I want to thank her family for sharing her with the world. May we find comfort in knowing that she lived a full blessed life, and her legacy will live on in the hearts and actions of those she impacted. Rest in Peace and Power, thy good and faithful servant.

On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the extraordinary life and legacy of Mrs. Beatrice Muse Price and her dedicated service that helped transform American History.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the leadership of Bishop Calvin W. Woods, Sr., the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Birmingham Chapter, who is retiring after 15 wonderful years of service to the Birmingham community.

Bishop Woods obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Miles College before continuing his education at Birmingham Baptist College. He went on to complete multiple degrees at the Universal Bible Institute, Union Baptist Seminary, and the School of Truth. Diversifying his education, Bishop Woods is also a graduate of the Urban Training Center for Christian Missions and obtained a certificate for police communications from Samford University.

In 1956, Bishop Woods joined his brother Reverend Abraham L. Woods, Jr., and Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth to co-found the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR). Through this, Bishop Wood began the journey of what would become six decades of courageous leadership throughout the Civil Rights Movement. Working closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Bishop Woods was an audacious leader during the Civil Rights Movement. Supporting the work of Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth, Bishop Woods challenged segregation directly, participating in numerous demonstrations, including

the Birmingham Campaign and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. Though his participation in the movement resulted in him being beaten, arrested, and fired from his job, he continued to fight for justice and equality for all, planning strategies for public protests following `the shooting of five African Americans who had been protesting at a supermarket during the 1960s and filing a lawsuit on behalf of the youth suspended from school during the demonstration to ensure that they could be re-instated.

As a result of his tenacity and dedication, Bishop Woods was appointed by Dr. King as the SCLC City Convener for the Birmingham Ministers Leadership Conference. In this position, Bishop Woods was responsible for educating ministers concerning Black history, picketing, housing, direct non-violent protesting, voter registration, and negotiations to ensure that they were fully equipped to continue leading their congregations throughout the movement.

Apart from his work as a Civil Rights leader, Bishop Woods has continued to play a vital role in the Birmingham community through his various community affiliations and as the pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, where he has led the congregation for the past 34 years. Bishop Woods has served in multiple capacities including, board member of the Birmingham Board of Education at Parker High School in Discipline and Administration; evening supervisor for the Park High Community School; counselor, group worker, and center director for the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity; and board member of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. His additional community affiliations include former president of the New Era Baptist State Convention of Alabama; former ViceChair of the Board of Trustees of the Birmingham Easonian Baptist Bible College; and former National Chaplain of the SCLC. Today, at the age of 80, he continues to champion the cause for human rights serving currently as Vice President of the National Southern Christian Leadership Conference and as a member of the National Board of Directors of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. On a personal note, the contributions that Bishop Woods made to ensure the equal rights of all Americans during the Civil Rights Movement are truly exemplary. To call him an icon of the movement is an understatement. His unwavering commitment to improving the lives of Black Alabamians has earned him a unique place in history. It was because of his courage, sacrifice, and conviction that so many of us now have the leadership positions we do today. We owe Bishop Woods a debt that we cannot repay. I hope the knowledge that his legacy of extraordinary service will live on and the many people he has impacted will be and a source of great pride during his retirement. Thank you for being such a powerful agent for change. On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the extraordinary leadership and service of Bishop Calvin W. Woods, Sr., and his contributions to not only the community of Birmingham as President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Birmingham Chapter but to the world as a Civil Rights leader.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the naming of Autherine Lucy Hall on the campus of the University of Alabama. Autherine Lucy Foster was the first Africa-American student to integrate the University of Alabama in 1952.

After graduating from Miles College in 1952 with a degree in English, Autherine followed her aspirations of continuing her education by applying for graduate school at the University of Alabama. After sending in her initial request on September 4, 1952, she and her friend Pollie Anne Myers received letters welcoming them to the University of Alabama. However, upon submitting applications that indicated race, both women's admissions were revoked by university officials due to the university's ``Whites only'' policy. Once the community learned of both students not being admitted to the university due to their race, two of the most prominent civil rights lawyers, Arthur Shores and Thurgood Marshall, began working on their behalf testing one of the most consequential Supreme Court cases in our history, Brown v Board of Education of Topeka. On June 28, 1955, just over a year after the Brown decision, U.S. District Judge Harlan Grooms heard their case ruling in favor of the women upholding the precedent of the Supreme Court and solidifying the legal eradication of the ``separate but equal'' policy.

In hopes of further discouraging Autherine and Pollie, the university hired private investigators to look into their backgrounds to find information that would ensure they could not attend. As a result of their efforts, Pollie was disqualified from admission, leaving Autherine to attend the university alone. Upon her attendance, Autherine experienced high-intensity adversity. She was denied dining and dormitory privileges and suffered multiple verbal and physical attacks from her White counterparts, which resulted in her being removed from the university by the Board of Trustees, claiming it was for her protection. With Autherine fearing for her life, Attorney Shores and Marshall stepped in on her behalf once again, filing an official complaint stating that the university had been complicit in permitting the crowd to intimidate and threaten Autherine. Unfortunately, they were unable to prove the university's role in the mob action, and despite withdrawing the complaint, the administration argued that through their actions, Autherine had defamed the school and its administration resulting in her expulsion.

Though she felt defeated at the moment, less than ten years later, her efforts to integrate the University of Alabama finally became a reality. Vivian Malone and James Hood enrolled at the University of Alabama in June 1963. Vivian went on to become the first African American to graduate from the University of Alabama, continuing the work of Autherine and opening the door for more students to follow in their footsteps. However, unbeknownst to her, it would take over thirty years for her own story to be completed at the University of Alabama.

Thirty-two years after her expulsion from the University of Alabama, she was asked to come back to the university as a guest speaker. With multiple faculty members advocating on her behalf to overturn her expulsion, she returned in 1989 to enroll as a student. Enrolling the same year as her daughter Grazia, they graduated together in 1992 to receive their respective graduate and undergraduate degrees. Ensuring that her legacy of bravery and tenacity lives on, the University of Alabama awarded Autherine with an honorary doctorate in 2019, a $25,000 scholarship in her name and honored her with two land makers on campus--a historic marker in front of the newly named Autherine Lucy Hall and the Autherine Lucy Clock Tower.

On a personal note, as Alabama's first Black Congresswoman, it is a source of tremendous pride to celebrate the courage and sacrifice of Autherine Lucy Foster in integrating the University of Alabama. The naming of a campus building in her honor 70 years after she first enrolled in the university shows that delayed justice can lead to racial healing and reconciliation. It was because of her bravery and sheer audacity in the face of an incredible injustice that Black students attend and graduate from the University of Alabama today. The university, the State of Alabama, and the nation owe Autherine Lucy Foster a debt of gratitude that can never truly be repaid. The naming of Autherine Lucy Hall will stand as a powerful reminder of the progress that can be achieved when this nation lives up to its best ideals of equality and justice for all.

On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the extraordinary courage of Autherine Lucy Foster and the naming of Autherine Lucy Hall on the campus of the University of Alabama.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary accomplishments of Cachavious ``Chay'' English, my beloved former Chief of Staff, and key advisors; Chay joined our staff as a legislative assistant in January of 2011 and served his home district with distinction for almost ten years. In November of last year, Chay took on a new role at BGR Group, a primer bipartisan lobbying, and public relations firm, as a vice president where he will be focusing on financial services, tax, and health care policies.

Chay received his education from the University of Michigan, where he served as a residential advisor before receiving his Bachelor of Arts in African and African American Studies. At the University of Michigan, Chay became a member of his esteemed fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., a brotherhood that has provided him an invaluable network for years to come. He then continued his education at the University of Alabama School of Law, where he graduated with a 3.0. It was here where he began setting the foundation for his promising career in politics as a member of the Trial Advocacy Competition Team that would go on to become national champions in 2009 through 2010. As an active student at the University of Alabama, Chay was also a member of the Order of Barristers Honors Society and the National Black Law Students Association.

Professionally while working as a legal intern for the National Labor Board Field Office and former Alabama 7th Congressional District Representative Congressman Artur David in 2009 and 2010, Chay continued to expand his knowledge of politics by performing statutory research and analysis on proposed legislation concerning Displaced Citizens' Voting Rights, the Elder Justice Act, Military Internet Voting, and Gulf Coast Reconstruction. Chay joined our office in 2011 and served as a Legislative Assistant serving as an interim primary policy advisor for all proposed legislative initiatives, policy recommendations, and recorded votes. Devoting his considerable talents to ensuring the progression of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, he quickly became the primary counsel for legislative initiatives and policy recommendations pertaining to financial services, small business, agriculture, housing, workforce development, and labor issues.

In 2013, Chay then became one of the lead lobbyists for the American Association for Justice as a part of the Federal Relations Counsel. Here, he led and managed advocacy efforts, managed complex legislative projects, and directly advocated civil justice issues including, intellectual property rights, national security, transportation safety, and consumer protection.

Returning to serve his home district in 2015, Chay returned to our office, where he served as Legislative Director, then a dynamic Chief of Staff until 2020. Here he brought his same hardworking attitude and political astuteness to expand and uplift Alabama's 7th Congressional District. He was not only a valued member of my staff but as a fellow native of Selma, Alabama Chay's success continues to be celebrated throughout my district. Chay serves as the embodiment of what residents from the Black Belt can accomplish when given the opportunity.

On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the remarkable accomplishments of Cachavious English, a true servant leader whose achievements have inspired a generation of future trailblazers from across the Black Belt.