Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, my amendment instructs the Secretary to submit to Congress an analysis on what resources are needed to strengthen partnerships between health and transportation providers.

According to the American Hospital Association, 3.6 million Americans miss or delay medical appointments because they lack a ride. And another report tells us that missed healthcare appointments cost the U.S. health system $150 billion each year.

Many private healthcare organizations currently partner with ridesharing services. From the recent expansion of supplemental benefits under the Medicare Advantage program to the Medicaid non- emergency medical transportation benefit, the Federal Government also invests in programs aimed at addressing transportation barriers to care.

As we continue our focus on reducing health care costs, we must make sure medical transportation programs are reliable, cost-efficient and available to all Americans. I encourage adoption of my amendment.

Madam Speaker, my amendment instructs the Veterans Health

Administration to prioritize funding for the modernization of medical transportation programs for rural, underserved and female Veterans.

According to the American Hospital Association, 3.6 million people in the U.S. do not obtain medical care due to transportation barriers. And another report tells us that missed healthcare appointments cost the U.S. health system $150 billion each year.

The underlying committee report includes a pilot program to address transportation barriers for rural Veterans.

In light of this and the Veterans Transportation Program, the VA can play a critical role in collaborating with other federal agencies to reduce duplication and modernize medical transportation programs across public programs.

As we work to address rising health care costs, our federal agencies collaborate to modernize and expand public medical transportation programs.

Madam Chair, I would like to thank so much the subcommittee chairperson, Mr. Bishop, for allowing me this time.

My amendment is part of the en bloc, and it deals with wastewater treatment.

No person in America and living in this country should be allowed to not have adequate plumbing. This is why I have introduced an amendment asking the USDA to prioritize our ongoing efforts to address failing septic systems in rural communities.

Approximately 20 percent of Americans are responsible for the installation and maintenance of their own sewage disposal systems, which isn't provided by their municipalities or their county government. At least 200,000 families live in homes that lack a sewage system altogether.

We offer little assistance to people who live in unincorporated areas to have basic water and sewer. Rural communities across this country struggle with this issue.

Just this week, I read lots and lots of articles that dealt with the failure of those folks in rural communities to have adequate sewage systems.

This amendment is part of a multiyear effort to address this once and for all for all Americans.

Last year, my bill, the Rural Septic Tank Access Act, was included in the farm bill.

Madam Chair, I thank Chairman Bishop and his staff for allowing me to speak on this underlying en bloc bill today.

In fiscal year 2018, we secured an additional $1.8 billion in rural wastewater funding with the help of Congressman Aderholt.

Madam Chair, again, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' for this en bloc amendment.

Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of Mrs. Walorski for the Walorski-Sewell amendment.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of this amendment.

It has been over 4 months since the Department of Commerce submitted its auto 232 report to the White House, and neither Congress nor the public has seen that report.

Congress gave the executive section 232 authority to combat legitimate national security threats, not to keep secrets from Congress and the American people.

Unfortunately, I think I know why this administration has not submitted this report. It is because the products hardworking Americans in the auto sector design, build, sell, and service are not a threat to our national security.

The autoworkers in my district in Alabama are terrified that, any day, President Trump will announce tariffs,

threatening up to 624,000 jobs in the auto sector.

That is why over 160 Democratic and Republican Members of the House of Representatives have joined Congresswoman Walorski and me in signing a letter to the administration, urging them to abandon their auto 232 tariff threat.

Auto tariffs remain a threat, and the public deserves to see the report.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment to make sure that we are calling upon this administration to be transparent, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of the late Coach Otis Washington.

A native of Selma, Alabama, Coach Washington was a legendary Louisiana Football Hall of Famer who instilled in his players his winning spirit, strong character, and quest for excellence.

Sadly, Coach Washington passed away on Friday, May 24, 2019, at the age of 80.

Coach Washington was born on February 12, 1939, in Selma, Alabama, to Sadie and Otis Washington, Sr. He graduated from R.B. Hudson High School in 1957, where he was class president and a star athlete. He then graduated from Xavier University in New Orleans, where he was captain of the football team and an all-conference guard and linebacker.

Coach Washington's resume speaks for itself. As the head football coach, he led St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, to three State championships and, in his 11 seasons there, he guided the Purple Knights to 11 consecutive winning seasons and seven district titles.

In 1979, Coach Washington became the first African American football coach at LSU when he joined the staff as offensive line coach. Later, Coach Washington was hired as the head football coach at Southern University, where he led the Jaguars for six seasons.

Because of his many outstanding football achievements, Coach Washington was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2015 and the St. Augustine Hall of Fame in 2017, among many, many other honors.

His success on the football field was matched by his many efforts in the community to promote fairness, equity, and justice. Coach Washington was a key figure in integrating the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.

While Coach Washington was often quick to downplay his role in integrating the league, he did so as a humble man who knew his place, but, more importantly, knew that his place was rising above the stars and making sure that his players knew that they were just as good, if not better, than any other player on the field.

Coach Washington was a devout Catholic and a devoted member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His devotion to his faith began as a young boy in Selma, Alabama, where he was a member of the Don Bosco Catholic Boys Club, founded by Father Nelson Ziter in 1947.

He was also a devout husband to his wife of 52 years, Linda Patterson Washington of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, whom he met while coaching at St. Augustine. He is also survived by his siblings, Carol, Olivia, Charlene, Theopolis, Sharon, and Irma; and many godchildren, special grandchildren, as well as nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. They will all miss him dearly.

On a personal note, I knew this amazing man as my ``Uncle Otis.'' He was one of my father's childhood best friends growing up in Selma, Alabama. Uncle Otis, my dad, Charles Williams, and Ted Washington referred to themselves as the ``Four Amigos'' in grammar school, a name that stuck with them throughout their lives. These men never forgot the lessons that they learned from Father Ziter at the Don Bosco Boys Club in Selma. Their love for their hometown of Selma and their commitment to service through sports will always be remembered.

Uncle Otis and Auntie Linda were a constant presence in the lives of my twin brothers and myself. I could always count on them for words of encouragement and boasts of pride on my many accomplishments. I know that I stand today as Alabama's first Black congresswoman because of the love, support, nurturing, and prayers of the mentors, family, and friends like Uncle Otis and Auntie Linda.

Like my dad, Uncle Otis will be missed but never forgotten. The legacy that Uncle Otis leaves behind will live on in the many lives that he impacted. May we find comfort in knowing that his legend lives in us, and we are stronger and better because Uncle Otis' light shines bright within us.

On behalf of Alabama's Seventh Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the extraordinary life and legacy of Selma's own Coach Otis Washington, a football coaching legend and Louisiana hall-of-famer. May we celebrate the totality of his life today and honor always his great accomplishments in sports and contributions in shaping the hearts, minds, and character of many men.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Theresa Burroughs, a champion for voting rights and a foot soldier of the civil rights movement.

Sadly, Mrs. Burroughs passed away on May 22, 2019, at the age of 89.

Mrs. Burroughs dedicated her life to advancing equality and justice and making sure that future generations would learn about the sacrifices and the bravery of foot soldiers who marched, bled, and died for the right to vote and for civil rights in this country.

She is best known for her stewardship in founding the Safe House Black History Museum in Greensboro, Alabama. The museum is located in the same house in Hale County where Dr. Martin Luther King hid out from the KKK on a visit to west Alabama in 1968. The museum houses materials to educate future generations of the local struggle that happened in the Black Belt of Alabama on behalf of all of us.

I am deeply honored to have known Mrs. Burroughs, and, in fact, I had the opportunity to present Mrs. Burroughs with a Congressional Gold Medal for her participation in the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery. I am deeply honored because I know I stand on the shoulders of Mrs. Burroughs. So many of us do. Her bright light will always glow through the many lives that

she impacted. May my colleagues join me in celebrating the exemplary life of Mrs. Burroughs today and honor her great contributions to this Nation, the State of Alabama, and to the civil rights and voting rights movements.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2940, to extend the authorization for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and the Child Care Entitlements to States program through the end of the 2019 fiscal year. This legislation will ensure that families in my district continue to have access to the important financial and social support offered by these programs.

We know that low-income workers face significant hurdles to economic security. TANF is a critical tool for making sure that these families can afford basic necessities like food, housing, and medicine. In fact, over 11,000 families in Alabama currently receive assistance from TANF, and more than 20,000 children benefit from this important program.

This bill will make sure that TANF recipients in Alabama receive the $23.25 million that is expected to be allocated to the State in the coming months.

This legislation also extends the Child Care Entitlement to States program, an important tool as we fight to make sure all parents can have access to affordable, quality childcare. Childcare is one of the largest expenses facing families, and the matching funds included in this program are important to support low-income workers and their children.

I am pleased that this bill will unlock $10.2 million of funding for childcare in Alabama to help meet the needs of children and families in my district.

While I strongly support this bill, it should be noted that no one thinks that this short-term extension of these programs is the perfect solution. But it is critical that we maintain funding and provide continuity for working families and children who depend upon TANF and childcare grant funding.

It is my hope that we will continue to explore ideas to improve these programs, including increasing funding levels for childcare support grants and identifying ways that these programs can more effectively help families in need.

I ask my colleagues to join us in supporting this short-term extension of TANF and childcare entitlement programs, and I ask that they support this bill going forward.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of the late Coach Otis Washington. A native of Selma, Alabama, Coach Washington was a legendary football and Louisiana Hall of Famer, who instilled in his players his winning spirit, stalwart character and quest for excellence. He led St. Augustine High School to three state championships before moving on to coach at LSU and Southern University. Sadly, Coach Washington passed away on Friday, May 24, 2019 at the age of 80.

Coach Washington was born on February 12, 1939 in Selma, Alabama to Sadie and Otis Washington, Sr. He graduated from R.B. Hudson High School in 1957 where he was class president and a star athlete. He then graduated from Xavier University in New Orleans, where he was the captain of the football team and an All-Conference guard and linebacker. A stellar all-around athlete, Coach Washington also made Xavier's All-Conference team in baseball.

Coach Washington was a devout Catholic and devoted member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His devotion to his faith began as a young boy in Selma, Alabama, where he was a member of the Don Bosco Catholic Boy's Club founded by Father Nelson Ziter in 1947.

Coach Washington's resume speaks for itself. He led St. Augustine to state championships in 1975, 1978 and 1979, and in his 11 seasons there, he garnered a 113-17-1 record and guided the Purple Knights to 11 consecutive winning seasons and seven district titles in their ultra-competitive league.

In 1979, Coach Washington became the first African American football coach at LSU when he joined the staff as an offensive line coach. In 1981, Coach Washington was hired as the head football coach at Southern University in Baton Rouge, where he led the Jaguars for six seasons, until 1986.

His achievements on the football field led to his induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2015 and the St. Augustine Hall of Fame in 2017. He was also inducted into several additional halls of fame, including: The New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame--Outstanding Prep Coach (1979); New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame (1994); Louisiana High School Athletic Association Sports Hall of Fame (2012); Southern University Sports Hall of Fame (2016); and Xavier University Hall of Fame (2017).

His success on the football field was matched by his many efforts in the community to promote fairness, equity and justice. ``Coach Wash,'' as he was known by most, was a key figure in the integration of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA). Three years before Coach Washington took over at St. Augustine, a lawsuit allowed the school to compete in the LHSAA, rather than the all-black Louisiana Interscholastic Athletic and Literary Organization. St. Augustine, led by Coach Washington, often found itself caught in the middle of a changing, difficult social environment, and on the losing end of many officials' calls. In 1970, when all-black St. Augustine team faced off against an all-white team in Chalmette, the team was escorted by police. On the field, the players were surrounded by a dozen officers and police dogs. Despite the environment, though, the team, persevered and eventually made it to the state championship--and won.

While Coach Washington was often quick to downplay his role in integrating the league and said he did not see himself as a civil rights leader, his guidance opened doors of opportunity for countless members of the African American community, and many of his players credit his leadership with the team's persistence and determination to make it to the state finals, despite the difficult racial social climate. He demanded discipline and attention to detail from both his players and assistant coaches at every level of the game, from St. Augustine to LSU. These lessons remained with his players even after they had hung up their cleats.

Coach Washington is survived by his wife of over 52 years, Linda Patterson Washington of Baton Rouge, whom he met while coaching at St. Augustine; his siblings, Carol C. Black, Olivia Washington, Charlene W. Brown, Theopolis, Sr. (Jacqueline), Sharon D. Williams (Tyrone R., Sr.), Irma Ruth McQueen, and many godchildren, special grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

On a personal note, I knew this amazing man as my ``Uncle Otis.'' He was one of my father's best childhood friends. Uncle Otis, my dad, Charles Williams and Ted Washington referred to themselves as the ``Four Amigos'' in grammar school, a name that stuck throughout their lifetimes. These men never forgot the lessons they learned from Father Nelson Ziter at the Don Bosco Boy's Club of Selma, nor the friendship that bound them forever. They shared a deep love of their hometown of Selma and a commitment to service through sports.

Uncle Otis and Auntie Linda were a constant presence in the lives of my twin brothers and me. I could always count on them for words of encouragement and boasts of pride in my accomplishments. I know that I stand today as Alabama's first black Congresswoman because of the love, support, nurturing and prayers of the mentors, family and friends like Uncle Otis. Like my dad, Coach Otis Washington will be missed, but never forgotten. The legacy Uncle Otis leaves behind will live on in the many lives that he impacted. May we find comfort in knowing that his legend lives in us, and we are stronger and better because Uncle Otis' light shines bright within us.

On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the extraordinary life and legacy of Selma, Alabama native Coach Otis Washington, a football coaching legend and Louisiana Hall of Famer. May we celebrate the totality of his life today and honor always his great accomplishments in sports and contributions in shaping the hearts, minds and character of men.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of the late Theresa Turner Burroughs. Mrs. Burroughs, a champion of the right to vote, was a beloved member of the Hale County community who, through grace, grit and love, helped move her hometown of Greensboro, Alabama towards a more just and equal future. Sadly, Mrs. Burroughs passed away on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at the age of 89.

Mrs. Burroughs was the youngest of eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Napoleon and Mattie Turner near Moundville, Alabama on August 14, 1928. Due to a flood, the family moved to Greensboro, Alabama, where she remained throughout her life. Mrs. Burroughs graduated from Hale County Training School in 1946 and later from the Bestita School of Beauty. She was married to the late Walter Kenneth Burroughs, who retired from the United States Army. Mrs. Burroughs was the mother of four children: Paula Renee, Kathy Sue, Leslie Erroll and Toni Teresa.

From a young age, Mrs. Burroughs became fascinated by the right to vote and wondered why that right was solely given to white citizens in the Black Belt. During the Jim Crow era, the board of registrars at Alabama's Hale County Courthouse prevented African Americans from registering to vote. Undeterred, she went to the Hale County Courthouse to register to vote on the first and third Monday of each month, where she sometimes waited for hours before being tested with irrelevant questions. She was quizzed on how many red jelly beans there were in a jar and was asked to recite the second line of the second paragraph of the U.S. Constitution and the American Creed, among other tasks, but was denied the right to vote time after time. After two long years, Mrs. Burroughs' determination paid off, and she successfully registered to vote.

Mrs. Burroughs carried these experiences with her throughout her life. Mrs. Burroughs said it was a joy to finally be able to cast her ballot but remarked that it should not have been so difficult to do so. She knew just how precious her right to vote was and worked hard to ensure her own voice and those of all the citizens in the Greensboro community were counted at the ballot box. She never missed a chance to exercise that sacred right, voting in elections at every level.

Mrs. Burroughs showed the depth of her bravery and dedication to the Civil Rights Movement when she marched over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama on March 7, 1965 along with hundreds of other Foot Soldiers to protest for their right to vote. That day, Bloody Sunday, she was brutally beaten and arrested by state troopers and sheriff's deputies.

Mrs. Burroughs is best known for her stewardship of the ``Safe House Museum'' in Greensboro, Alabama, which she founded in 2002. The museum is located in the same house where local residents hid Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from the Ku Klux Klan on a visit to West Alabama in 1968. The Safe House Museum is a reminder of the pivotal role the Black Belt of Alabama played in the Civil Rights Movement. It houses photographs, biographies and historical artifacts to document and educate future generations about the local struggle for the right to vote. The walls of the museum are lined with mug shots of Foot Soldiers, including one of Mrs. Burroughs holding a towel and glasses to protect her eyes from tear gas. A black ''X'' police

drew on the bottom of her mug shot signifies her status as a leader among the marchers.

Mrs. Burroughs always sought greater equality in her community and demanded to be treated equally, igniting her career and passion for advocacy. Never one to back down, she continued her efforts as an activist leading the Hale County Civic Improvement League, one of the oldest grassroots civil rights organizations in the nation. The organization was instrumental in sparking change in Greensboro and Hale County by soliciting and supporting minority candidates to run for local office, including city council, county commission, sheriff, school board and more.

She remained engaged and active in her community throughout her life and helped elect Greensboro's first African American Mayor, John Owens. Her exemplary reputation and prominence in Hale County drove many political candidates, both local and regional, to seek her council and support for their campaigns. Mrs. Burroughs also was instrumental in securing various programs for the city of Greensboro and Hale County, and led the charge to rename Depot Street to Martin Luther King Drive.

On a personal note, I am deeply honored that I got to know Mrs. Burroughs as one of the real matriarchs of the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama. Mrs. Burroughs was instrumental as the keeper of the archives surrounding the role that Greensboro, Alabama played protecting Dr. King from the KKK in 1968. As founder of the Safe House Museum, it was because of her efforts that future generations will learn about the sacrifices and bravery of so many known and unknown Foot Soldiers for justice. Mrs. Burroughs honored me by attending my first election night victory party in November 2010 in Selma, when I was elected Alabama's first black Congresswoman. I celebrated her as one of the ``Black Women Pioneers in Alabama'' that night. So many of us stand on the broad shoulders of Mrs. Theresa Burroughs that her bright light will always glow through the many lives that she has impacted.

On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering the exemplary life of Theresa Turner Burroughs, a civil rights icon and a true American heroine, who helped change Alabama and the entire nation for the better. May we celebrate the totality of her life today and honor her great contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. James Ervin, a Foot Solider in the American Voting Rights Movement, Vietnam Veteran, and Son of Selma, Alabama.

An advocate for social justice in every sense of the word, Mr. Ervin was only sixteen years old when he dared to participate in Selma's voting rights movement. He marched in many demonstrations and was arrested with schoolmates in the name of equality and justice. Mr. Ervin also participated in the infamous march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma on Bloody Sunday, coverage of which helped contribute to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Upon graduation from high school, Mr. Ervin continued his record of public service and sacrifice by enlisting in the United States Army and serving our country honorably in the Vietnam War.

Mr. James ``Ebo'' Ervin was born in Selma, Alabama, on October 27, 1948, and he departed this life on Monday, May 13, 2019, in Mobile, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his father Willie Ervin; his mother, Willie Lee Ervin (nee: Goodwin); and his brother Albert ``Joe'' Ervin.

Mr. Ervin was in high school during the civil rights movement in the Selma-Montgomery area. He actively participated in the events of the time with the hopes of changing the area and the nation. He has been recognized as an original Foot Soldier of the movement. Mr. Ervin went on to graduate from R.B. Hudson High School in May 1967. He faithfully attended class reunions and maintained lifelong friendships with his classmates. Shortly after graduation, Mr. Ervin joined the U.S. Army and served our nation during the Vietnam War.

After returning home to Selma, he attended and graduated from Wallace Community College where he received an Associate Degree in Industrial Electricity in October 1974. After graduation, he relocated to Mobile, Alabama, where he began working in various shipyards around the Gulf Coast area. He was employed with Bender Shipbuilding for 10 years then went on to work for Ingalls Shipbuilding, where he worked for 27 years until his retirement.

Mr. Ervin accepted Christ as his Savior at an early age. His personal relationship with the Lord was very important to him and he was always encouraging others to work on their own personal relationship with God. He joined Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church in Selma and considered it to be his home church, but he was also an active member of New Faith Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama, where he was in regular attendance and served the church as needed.

Mr. Ervin was the youngest of Willie and Willie Lee's seven children. He is survived by his siblings: Willie (Gloria) Ervin, Jr., Maggie Harris, Charles Ervin, Mary Lee, and Solomon (Joan) Ervin.

After the passing of his mother Willie Lee Ervin, James was blessed to be welcomed into the family of Lula Marie Edwards. She embraced him as her son and he loved her as his mother.

Along with Lula, Mr. Ervin is mourned by his siblings: Brenda (Steven) Brazzelle, Anthony Edwards, Amy (Roosevelt) Marzette, Stephanie (Ricky) Menifee, Lewis (Lisa) Edwards, Bonita (Calvin) Andrews, and Derrick Edwards, and half siblings, Solomon ``TC'' Ervin, Gloria Walker, and Raymond Walker.

Mr. Ervin shared unique and special relationships with each of his 16 siblings and his relationships with his children and grandchildren were no different. He leaves seven children to cherish his memories: Grace (Tommy) Johnson, Glenda Reaves, Barry Lowe, Elecia Scott, Ericka Priester, James Levan (La'Shell) Peasant, and Christopher Charles Peasant; twelve grandchildren: Tomequa (Norris, Jr.) Lewis, Tierra Robinson, Christopher Reaves, Brandon Bennett, Jailynn Peasant, Zyia Peasant, Janea Scott, Tobiasz Johnson, Tommasz Johnson, Jaichelle Peasant, Elisha Brayden Scott, and Jaceyon Alexander Long; two great grandchildren, Madisyn Lewis and Tamari Jacob Smith; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, including one devoted sister Maggie Harris, a devoted niece, Franchy Harris Coleman; and special friends, Joseph Smitherman, Calvin Thomas, and Robert Hatcher.

On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District and a grateful nation, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Mr. Ervin's contributions to bettering the Selma and Mobile communities and our nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act--The SECURE Act.

Almost 60 percent of Americans do not have any retirement account assets. That means they haven't put away a single dollar for retirement. Not one.

The SECURE Act includes many provisions to expand opportunities for Alabamians to increase their retirement savings.

The bill: makes it easier for small businesses to offer retirement plans to their employees; provides retirement benefit opportunities to home care workers; allows long-time, part-time workers to participate in a 401(k) plan; and much more.

Also included in the SECURE Act is a provision that I introduced with my colleagues earlier this month. It will deliver an urgently-needed fix for Gold Star military families who saw a drastic tax hike as a result of the Republican tax bill.

The SECURE Act goes a long way in ensuring that Americans get the economic security they deserve, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of the late Christopher McNair. Commissioner McNair was a beloved member of the Birmingham community who, even in the

face of unspeakable tragedy, led his community with grace and love towards a more equal and just future.

Commissioner McNair's daughter, Denise, was killed in the 16th St. Baptist Church bombing on Sunday, September 15, 1963. It was in that moment that the McNair family became forever intertwined with the Civil Rights Movement.

Commissioner McNair was born in Fordyce, Arkansas on November 22, 1925. Commissioner McNair left his family and 11 younger siblings to serve in the Army during World War II. After leaving the service, he studied at Tuskegee University and earned a degree in agronomy in 1949. It was there that he met Thelma ``Maxine'' Pippen, a fellow classmate, and fell in love. After graduation, Commissioner McNair took a job in Tupelo, Mississippi teaching veterans and visited Maxine on the weekends in Birmingham while staying with her grandparents. The two married shortly after and settled in Tupelo.

When Mrs. McNair became pregnant, the couple moved back to Birmingham to be near family. On November 17, 1951, Carol Denise was welcomed to the world by her loving parents and became the center of their lives. Commissioner McNair was an amateur photographer and photographed Denise's childhood, including the iconic photo of her wearing her red winter coat and matching hat.

On the morning of September 15, 1963, Mrs. McNair and Denise left their home to attend church at 16th St. Baptist Church. Tensions were high in Birmingham as the Civil Rights Movement continued, and there were frequent acts of violence throughout the city. That morning was no exception--four members of the Ku Klux Klan bombed the basement of the church, killing Commissioner McNair's daughter, Denise, 11, Addie Mae Collins, 14, Carole Robertson, 14, and Cynthia Wesley, 14. These young girls became known to the world as the 4 Little Girls.

That morning, Commissioner McNair was at home preparing to go to his church, St. Paul Lutheran, when he heard the explosion and mistook it for thunder. After a neighbor explained what happened, he raced to the hospital, and was initially relieved because he did not see Denise's name on a list of the injured. Later, though, Mr. and Mrs. McNair were asked to walk into a separate room. There, the bodies of the four girls were covered, but Commissioner McNair instantly recognized Denise's shoe peeking out.

After overcoming their anger and sadness, the family was ready to return to their new normal. The McNairs welcomed two more blessings into their lives over the next five years: Lisa McNair, almost exactly a year after her sister's death, and Kimberly McNair in 1968. Both girls were seen as small miracles to the family and quickly became the light of their parents' lives.

After Denise's death, Commissioner McNair dedicated himself to serving the community and the people of Alabama. He knew he needed to help the state to reconcile its racial differences and to help heal the scars from the 1960s. In 1973, Commissioner McNair was elected the first African American State Representative since Reconstruction, and in that role, he worked tirelessly to bring positive national attention to the city he loved.

Commissioner McNair spent years in the public eye as an elected official, working hard to pass legislation that would help all residents. After serving in the legislature, Commissioner McNair took a chance and ran for the Jefferson County Commission. His bid for office was successful and he was sworn into office in 1986 where he served until his retirement in 2001.

On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering the life of Commissioner Christopher McNair, whose election to the Alabama State Legislature inspired countless men and women to run for office in the state of Alabama, to continue fighting for social justice, and to educate future generations about the Civil Rights Movement. May we celebrate the totality of his life today and honor his great works during his 28 years of service to Birmingham and the State of Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand as a member of this subcommittee to support the BRIDGE for Workers Act.

Mr. Speaker, no person wants to be without a job. I think that the hardest and most important thing that we as Members of Congress can do is to support the American worker to not only stay employed and find jobs, but, when they have to lose their job, that they are helped to be retrained--and that is exactly what this bill will do.

This bill will provide better reemployment services. Right now, they are limited. By expanding it, we will help American workers who are unemployed get back to work quicker and faster.

I want to acknowledge that this is a bipartisan bill. It is exactly what the American people need to see us do, which is to help workers maintain their dignity by not only staying employed but, when they lose their job, getting reemployed.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan piece of legislation and want to thank the chairman of our subcommittee and the ranking member of our subcommittee for bringing this bipartisan bill to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, as we approach tax day, I am proud to support the passage of the Taxpayer First Act, a commonsense, bipartisan piece of legislation to improve the relationship between taxpayers and the IRS.

Tax season is often confusing and overly burdensome for millions of families and small business owners across this country as people spend countless hours struggling to correctly file their taxes. Outdated IRS systems and practices contribute to this confusion and jeopardize the security of taxpayers' personal information. Additionally, too many taxpayers don't have reliable access to customer service supports and timely dispute resolution.

The Taxpayer First Act includes a number of important provisions to address these challenges, expanding taxpayer assistance services and improving data security. Families in my Alabama district and across this country will benefit from this bill codifying the Free File program, shielding certain low-income households from private debt collectors, and making more resources available online.

I am proud that the Taxpayer First Act also includes a provision that I had in my bill that I introduced with a Republican colleague, Jason Smith, the Preserving Taxpayers' Rights Act. This provision establishes an independent office of appeals within the IRS and gives taxpayers a legal right to impartial, timely, and efficient dispute resolution. It also helps protect taxpayers by clarifying the limited scope of cases that can be litigated and prevents the IRS from outsourcing audits of private taxpayers to outside law firms.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Lewis and Congressman Kelly for their continued support and leadership on this legislation. I know this legislation has been introduced and passed the House three times, but I know that Congressman Lewis knows that when you are right, and you are fighting on behalf of the American people for what is right, you must persist and keep fighting to get to the finish line. It is called good trouble, according to Congressman Lewis, and we are getting into good trouble today by helping to make the tax filing process more efficient, fair, and secure for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Inaugural Convocation and Investiture of Dr. Lily D. McNair as the 8th President of Tuskegee University and the first woman to ever serve as President in the University's storied 136-year history. Prior to her appointment at Tuskegee, Dr. McNair served for nearly seven years as provost and senior vice academic for affairs at Wagner College--a private college of 2,200 students located in Staten Island, New York.

Dr. McNair grew up in Browns Mills, New Jersey and is the eldest of four children. She is the daughter of a Japanese seamstress and an African American veteran who worked as a payroll clerk after serving in the Korean War.

Unlike many of her friends at other schools, Dr. McNair was lucky to have a high school guidance counselor who encouraged her, an aspiring first-generation college student with scarce financial resources, to apply to the Ivy League university she had dreamed of attending since she was a little girl. Because of her own experience, Dr. McNair believes in the value of mentorship and has placed a special emphasis on working with students and faculty to advance their goals.

Dr. McNair was the first in her family to attend college, and among the first African American women to attend Princeton University just six years after the university began admitting women. Dr. McNair earned her bachelor's degree in psychology in 1979, and master and doctorate degrees in psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Dr. McNair served as associate professor of psychology and associate director of the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Training Program at The University of Georgia, where in 1999 she was the first African American woman to obtain tenure and promotion in the psychology department. Dr. McNair's career in higher education also includes other appointments at the State University of New York at New Paltz, Vassar College and Spelman College. At Spelman, Dr. McNair was responsible for cultivating the institution's research capabilities, worked to strengthen faculty involvement in research and improve the efficiency of research resources.

Dr. McNair's upbringing in a working-class family and her public school background deeply influenced her philosophy on higher education, as she has sought to elevate and open doors of opportunity for minorities in academia. While at the University of Georgia, she was actively involved in increasing the numbers of African American psychology graduate students. Likewise, as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Wagner College, Dr. McNair helped increase the diversity of hired faculty by over 115 percent.

A clinical psychologist by training, Dr. McNair's research has focused on the development and evaluation of community-based interventions that target substance abuse and early sexual behavior in African American youth. Preliminary findings of her longitudinal studies demonstrate the significant impact of positive parenting practices on children's outcomes across a variety of domains.

In addition to her numerous academic accomplishments, Dr. McNair is a dedicated mother to Randall and Marguerite Roberts, and wife of Dr. George W. Roberts, a retired senior administrator at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On a personal note, I am proud to know Dr. McNair as a fellow graduate of Princeton University. She is a devoted administrator, committed public servant, inspirational figure, tireless educator, loving wife and proud mother. I know Dr. McNair will be an exemplary president of this esteemed institution, bringing to the position a keen intellect, strong advocacy abilities, steadfast work ethic and deep faith in God and the power of Mother Tuskegee. I look forward to continuing to work with Dr. McNair in her new position to bring more resources and greater opportunities to Tuskegee University. I gladly wish her well in her new endeavors.

On behalf of the 7th Congressional District and the State of Alabama, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the inauguration of Dr. Lily D. McNair as the 8th President of Tuskegee University and as the first woman to ever hold the position. I am honored to pay tribute to Dr. McNair for her tireless service and for the stellar and positive leadership she will surely continue to provide for all those who are a part of the Tuskegee University family.