Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Evans) for leading this Special Order hour.

Mr. Speaker, I especially want to acknowledge the Congressional Black Caucus for always being the ``Conscience of the Congress'' and for taking on the topic of tonight, which is the social safety net and how important it is as a lifeline for so many Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the efforts to dismantle our social safety net and the programs that help working Americans make ends meet.

Our Federal health, antihunger, and poverty programs are the lifeline for millions of Americans and their families. Every year, our Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, feeds 9.5 million families. Social Security keeps over 22 million Americans from falling into poverty. And Medicare ensures that 44 million men, women, and children have access to the care they need to stay healthy. These families are hanging by a thread, and with every cut to our health and antihunger programs, that thread becomes thinner and thinner.

In Alabama, I have seen the difference that these programs can make firsthand. I have met working parents who rely on SNAP to put food on the table for their children. I have met seniors who, after a lifetime of work, are able to get by only because of their Social Security check. I have met mothers who could not feed their children if it weren't for the maternity care that they get through Federal health programs. For these working parents, seniors, and children, our social safety net means the difference between a warm home and homelessness. It means a difference between a hot meal and going to bed hungry.

Last year in Alabama, I met a farmer named Hank, who was able to afford healthcare for the first time in his life because of the Affordable Care Act. And after Hank signed up for ObamaCare, tragedy struck. His hand was caught in a hay baler, requiring immediate emergency care. But because of the healthcare he received through the Affordable Care Act, Hank was able to pay for his trip to the emergency room and, most importantly, his family did not lose that farm.

That is what our social safety net does. It helps people when their time of need is most. It is a promise that no matter the hardship you face, we will never let you fall between the cracks. We, America, the land of plenty. We, Americans, don't let other Americans fall through the cracks. Whether your family faces a health crisis or layoffs; or you are caring for a new child, we are not going to let you fall into poverty.

Giving up on this promise is what I believe the Republican agenda has done. Giving up on this promise is what makes the Republican attacks on our social safety net so disturbing. It is a promise that we, as Americans, make to other Americans, that we will have a social safety net that will capture people in their most vulnerable time of need.

The tax bill that Congress and the Trump administration passed in December repealed the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate. That move drove healthcare costs for families and will result in 13 million more uninsured Americans. It was unnecessary, but it was a step that this administration took. It was a step that ripped from 13 million Americans their health insurance.

Just 2 months after the passage of the tax bill, President Trump proposed a budget, the President's budget, that would cut $500 billion from Medicare, $1.4 trillion from Medicaid, and $72 billion from Social Security disability. If these proposals were signed into law, more children would have gone hungry, more seniors would have fallen into poverty, and more Americans would be unable to afford to get sick.

In the Ways and Means Committee this week, Republicans are holding a hearing to discuss limiting access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF. At the same time, the House is debating reauthorizing a farm bill that would eliminate food assistance for 400,000 families and cut school lunches for 265,000 students.

This Congress is not just cutting a hole in our social safety net. Republicans are selling the net in its entirety in order to pay for the tax scam bill that they passed in December.

When President Trump and this Congress passed the GOP tax scam bill, they mortgaged the future of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security to give massive tax breaks to Wall Street and the richest Americans. They put our health and antihunger programs into jeopardy and on a chopping block in exchange for more trickle-down economics.

Mr. Speaker, after decades of stagnant wages, my constituents are no longer willing to wait for trickle-down economics to trickle down to them, especially when it means massive cuts to the Federal programs working families rely on.

Lives are at stake, Mr. Speaker. That is why the Congressional Black Caucus, led ably tonight by my colleague from Pennsylvania, is discussing the social safety net and why we will continue to discuss those programs that are the lifeline of so many Americans.

Why am I here? I am here because I represent Alabama's Seventh Congressional District, a district which is my home district. I proudly hail from the Seventh Congressional District. The Seventh Congressional District is the poorest district in the State of Alabama. The median income for a family of four is $32,000. But, Mr. Speaker, we are not asking for a handout, we are asking for a hand up. We need Federal assistance to make sure that our children don't go hungry, to make sure that those who work a lifetime have Social Security to live on when they are old.

It is important that we remember that these social safety net programs keep Americans afloat and keep working Americans still working, being able to provide food and nutrition to their children, being able to buy drugs that are lifesaving for them to continue to live. It is critically important that we remember that the social safety net is not just for minorities, it is for all Americans when they need it--when they need it. It is a promise that America has made and a promise that the GOP and this administration continues to break.

Lives are on the line. That is why I am calling on this Congress and this administration to abandon its attacks on the social safety net. Instead, we should be passing legislation that puts working people first. I am calling on this Congress to help keep our promise to the American people that no one will be left behind. As the richest Nation in the world, keeping that promise is not only within our power, it is our obligation.

Mr. Speaker, I again thank my colleague, Congressman Evans from Pennsylvania, and the Congressional Black Caucus for this Special Order hour and for continuing to remind people that we are Americans and we, as Americans, don't break our promise. Let's not break our promise when it comes to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security; let's not break our promise when it comes to the nutrition of our students; and let's not break our promise when it comes to working people who have worked all their lives for Social Security and need only to live off of it now.

Mr. Speaker, I again thank the Congressional Black Caucus for its courage to continue to speak power to truth.

Mr. Speaker, I absolutely will.

As my colleague just said, I think what I want people to remember is that we, as Americans, do make promises to other Americans. We do it all of the time.

The promise that I am talking about with social safety net is a promise that we won't leave other Americans behind. We can't be the land of plenty and have people struggling each and every day.

In my district, there are parts of my district that have water and sewer issues, sanitary issues, in 2018. No one in America should not have a flushing toilet. In my district, there are people who live like that.

I believe that the promise of America is a promise that we will do all we can to make sure that no American falls through the cracks.

We have to remember that all of us go through trying times. These programs are transitional programs. They are there to catch people when they are falling, to give people the opportunity and the training that they need to get back on their feet, to give them the opportunity to be working Americans again, and to give them a dignity to continue to be able to afford to take care of themselves.

I think that we need to remember that the American Dream comes with it an obligation, and I believe that that obligation is an American promise to all Americans that we won't rip social safety net programs away from them, but, instead, we will thoughtfully provide opportunities for training. The skills gap is real, and I think it is really important that we, if we are to address the future of work in America, acknowledge that we are leaving lots of Americans behind, and we, as a Federal Government, should take that as a challenge and meet that challenge to close the skills gap.

In many ways, the skills gap is an opportunity gap as well. In order to provide people who need opportunities the most, we have to be willing to step up and provide the resources for them to be able to retrain and retool.

It is critically important. The dignity of work is something that is critically important to most Americans, all Americans.

My district has the largest unemployment. When I took office in 2011, the average unemployment in my 14 counties was near 15 percent. It was 14.7 percent. And while Tuscaloosa is doing great and Birmingham is doing great, cities like Selma, that I grew up in, had 21 percent unemployment.

What people needed was an opportunity to get back on their feet. I dare to think about all the Americans who were helped by having the Affordable Care Act, by having Medicare and Medicaid, by having the assistance of the Federal Government to get back on their feet.

I am happy to report that the average unemployment in my 14 counties is not where we want to be, but we are at 6.3 percent. So it is not at the 3.9 or so that the national average is, but we are a far cry better than we were at the 15 percent. So these people are working.

So social service programs were meant to help people get back on their feet. I just think that people think about the fraud and abuse.

None of us want fraud and abuse when it comes to our programs, but I can tell you that 70 percent of the folks who receive SNAP in my district have children under the age of 17.

So when I fight for SNAP, when I fight against the massive cuts that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to have, I am fighting for those children to have food to eat. I am fighting for the millions of seniors who are on food stamps who depend upon it to provide nutritional assistance.

So I think that that promise is something that we all should not only honor, but take as a badge of honor here in the Nation's Capital and fight every day to provide opportunities for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, during Roll Call votes held on April 27, 2018, I was inescapably detained handling important matters related to my district and the State of Alabama. If I had been present, I would have voted NO on the amendment proposed by Rep. McClintock (112), NO on the amendment proposed by Rep. Duncan (114), YES on the Democratic motion to recommit, YES on final passage of H.R. 4, and NO on the motion to table H. Res. 856.

Mr. Speaker, during Roll Call votes held on April 26, 2018, I was inescapably detained handling important matters related to my District and the State of Alabama. If I had been present, I would have voted YES on the amendment proposed by Rep. DeFazio (42), NO on the Amendment proposed by Rep. Rohrabacher (60), NO on the Amendment proposed by Rep. King (IA) (63), NO on the Amendment proposed by Rep. Lipinski (78), NO on the Amendment proposed by Rep. Denham (79), YES on the Amendment proposed by Rep. Lynch (87), and YES on H.R. 4744.

Mr. Speaker, during Roll Call votes held on April 25, 2018, I was inescapably detained handling important matters related to my District and the State of Alabama. If I had been present, I would have voted YES on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 3144, NO on final passage of H.R. 3144, and I would have voted YES on final passage of

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5444,

the Taxpayer First Act. I want to take a point of personal privilege and congratulate the gentlewoman from Kansas and the gentleman from Georgia for working together and showing the Nation that, indeed, Democrats and Republicans can put party aside and actually get something done here in the Nation's Capitol. I especially want to thank the gentleman from Georgia, Congressman Lewis, who, of course, is a native son of Alabama.

On this tax day, this bill is an opportunity for us to change the relationship many taxpayers have with the Internal Revenue Service. Tax season is a stressful time for millions of Americans, and the compliance burden on the average American and small-business owner is unnecessarily difficult. We are taking important steps today to make the tax filing experience more sensible, fairer, and more efficient.

The base text of this bill includes the text of the bill that I introduced with our Republican colleague, Jason Smith, the Preserving Taxpayers' Rights Act. Our provisions, as a part of this bill, will introduce process reforms in four ways to help the Internal Revenue Service become more efficient and strengthen its ability to provide service to its customers.

First, our provisions would maintain taxpayers' legal right to have their case heard by the independent and impartial IRS Office of Appeals to ensure the timely, efficient, and cost-effective resolution of any tax disputes between a taxpayer and the IRS.

Secondly, it will ensure that cases the IRS designates for litigation can only be used where the matter involves a tax abuse that affects a large amount of taxpayers.

Thirdly, the provision in our bill that is in this underlying text would ensure that the use of designated summonses that extend the time period for the IRS to assess a tax liability are properly authorized and only used when taxpayers are uncooperative and refuse to provide information requested by the IRS.

Finally, the provision would also prevent the IRS from outsourcing Federal tax audits of private taxpayers to outside law firms.

In summary, our provisions in the bill will improve the independent appeals process, ensuring that the existing right of appeal is maintained and strengthened for taxpayers.

Mr. Speaker, overall, H.R. 5444 is a good bill that will make the tax filing experience much more sensible, fairer, and efficient. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2901, to make permanent the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) matching grant program.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program assists low-to- moderate income, elderly, disabled, and limited English speaking taxpayers in preparing and filing their federal income tax returns.

Since fiscal year 2008, Congress has used the appropriations process to provide funding for the Community VITA matching grants program for tax return preparation assistance.

But Congress has not authorized the VITA program to receive grants through the tax-writing process.

This bill puts the VITA grant program on more solid, permanent, and predictable footing.

Without this bill, the IRS has administered the VITA grant program narrowly, restricting grantees' ability to use grant funds to hire experts to train volunteers and perform quality reviews as well as to serve as Certified Acceptance Agents.

As a result, few VITA grantees assist low income self-employed taxpayers who file as pass-throughs, or low income taxpayers with disaster losses.

Moreover, few VITA grantees are open year-round or assist taxpayers in preparing amended returns.

This bill will lead to a stronger VITA program that is able to help many more low-income Americans navigate the tax filing process.

I applaud the sponsors of this bill, Representatives Carlos Curbelo and Danny Davis for working together on this long overdue legislation.

As a cosponsor of H.R. 2901, I urge all my colleagues to vote yes on this sensible bill.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a mentor, a fellow Selma, Alabama, native, voting rights activist, and an American hero, Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglas Reese, who passed away on April 5, 2018, at the age of 88. Dr. Reese is best known for the pivotal role he played in the Selma to Montgomery march that led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

It was Dr. Reese, as president of the Dallas County Voters League, who invited Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to Selma to organize and support their local voting rights campaign. As a longtime educator, pastor, and civil rights activist, Dr. Reese's life and legacy stands as a testament to the power of one man's ability to change the world.

Dr. Reese was born in Selma, Alabama, on November 28, 1929, the only son of a strong, matriarchal family led by his mother, Ellie R. Reese, and that included his older sister siblings, Doris Reese and Annie Ratliff. His strong educational and spiritual home environment, coupled with the Christian education training he received, was the solid foundation of his success.

An outstanding student, Dr. Reese graduated from Alabama State University and Livingston University with a degree in mathematics and continued his education at the University of Alabama, Southern University, and Auburn University before receiving his doctorate of divinity from Selma University.

Dr. Reese's teaching career began in Wilcox County, Alabama, where he taught science for 9 years and, most significantly, met his future bride, Alline, a fellow teacher. The two were married on June 28, 1953, and she remained his lifelong companion for 64 years.

By the mid-1960s, Dr. Reese had returned to teach in Selma, Alabama, where he became the president of the Dallas County Voters League and president of the Selma Teachers Association. He used both leadership positions to actively educate Blacks in Selma about the right to vote. With courage and tenacity, Dr. Reese led the first-ever teachers march to the Selma Dallas County Courthouse in which over 100 Black teachers demanded the right to vote. He challenged his fellow teachers to exercise their right of citizenship by saying: ``How can we teach American civics if we ourselves cannot vote?''

As the president of the Dallas County Voters League, he invited Dr. King to Selma to support their local efforts. With the help of Dr. King and SCLC, Dr. Reese organized a voting rights march on March 7, 1965, a day that will live in infamy as Bloody Sunday. During the march, protesters were brutally beaten and sprayed with tear gas simply for speaking out for their right to vote.

The sacrifices made that day by foot soldiers like Dr. Reese were captured on national outlets and led to the rise of so many Americans who came to Alabama to support their efforts. The Selma to Montgomery marches which Dr. Reese set in motion led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. While many minority Americans continue to face barriers to the polls today, our progress as a nation is unmistakable. We have Dr. Reese to thank for that progress.

On a personal note, I know that I would not be here today as Alabama's first Black Congresswoman were it not for the work of Dr. Reese and so many foot soldiers who led the way, who looked our democracy in the eye and made us hold up to those ideals. It was my greatest honor as a Member of Congress to present to my fellow Selma native Dr. Reese the Congressional Gold Medal for his work in the voting rights movement on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march.

Dr. Reese and others helped to change the course of American history and open the doors of opportunities for African Americans all across this Nation. We shall never forget the sacrifices that they made to our country.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Seventh Congressional District of Alabama; a great, grateful nation; and the State of Alabama, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life and contributions of Reverend Dr. Frederick Douglas Reese.

Dr. Reese was an American hero, a national treasure, a beloved Selma native whose life's fight for voting rights will forever change the fabric of American history. May we all recommit ourselves to the cause he fought for by voting in every election: local, State, and Federal.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of renowned civil rights leader, Reverend Dr. Frederick Douglas Reese of Selma, Alabama who passed away on April 5, 2018, at the age of 88. Dr. Reese is best known for the pivotal role he played in the Selma to Montgomery March that led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

It was Dr. Reese who as President of the Dallas County Voters League invited Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to Selma to organize and support their local voting rights campaign. As a longtime educator, pastor and civil rights activist, Dr. Reese's life and legacy stands as a testament to the power of one man's ability to change the world.

Dr. Reese was born in Selma on November 28, 1929, the only son of a strong matriarchal family led by his mother Ellie R. Reese and that included his older sister siblings--Doris Reese and Annie Ratliff. His strong educational and spiritual home environment coupled with the Christian education training received from his Green Street Baptist Church family propelled him to develop a firm faith that served as the solid foundation for his success.

An outstanding student, Dr. Reese graduated from Alabama State University and Livingston University with a degree in mathematics and a background that prepared him for political involvement. Believing knowledge is power, he continued his education at the University of Alabama, Southern University, and Auburn University before receiving his doctorate of divinity from Selma University.

Dr. Reese's teaching career began in Millers Ferry in Wilcox County, AL where he worked in the school system for nine years teaching science and eventually serving as assistant principal. It was there that Dr. Reese met his future bride, Alline Touglass Crossing, a fellow teacher. The two were married on June 28, 1953 and she remained his life-long companion for 64 years.

In 1960, Dr. Reese returned to his hometown of Selma to teach at R.B. Hudson High School. A beloved educator, Dr. Reese challenged his students to excel and made learning fun with his unique teaching style that combined disciplined study with practical application.

By the mid-1960s, Dr. Reese was the president of the Dallas County Voter's League and president of the Selma Teachers Association. He used both leadership positions to actively educate Blacks in Selma about their right to vote. In fact, Dr. Reese's first act as President of the Teachers Association was to sign a

proclamation declaring that teachers should register to vote. He challenged his fellow teachers to exercise their right of citizenship, saying ``How can we teach American civics if we ourselves cannot vote?''

With courage and tenacity, Dr. Reese led the first ever Teachers March to the Dallas County Court House in which a hundred black teachers demanded to register to vote. It was the first time in the Civil Rights Movement that teachers in the South publicly marched. Their actions were met with violence by the local sheriff Jim Clark and law enforcement. Nevertheless, Reese's persistent collaboration with league members notoriously called the ``Outrageous Eight", now revered as the ``Courageous Eight", fueled the movement with his nonviolent tactics and moral fortitude. Imbued by his faith and determination, it was Dr. Reese as president of the voter league who penned the invitational letter for Dr. King to come to Selma to bring his influence and support to the Selma voting rights campaign.

On March 7, 1965, led by our colleague John Lewis, Dr. Reese and more than 600 other activists marched over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma on what is infamously known as ``Bloody Sunday.'' During the march, protestors were beaten and sprayed with tear gas on the orders of Alabama Governor George Wallace.

Following the march, participants gathered at the Brown Chapel AME Church where Dr. Reese spoke to the crowd. Bloodied and beaten, the protesters committed to marching again for their right to vote. On March 21, 1965, after President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered the protection of the marchers, more than 50,000 people completed the 50- mile march from Selma to Montgomery. The Selma Marches prompted Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that still remains a keystone of federal voting rights protections for all Americans.

Dr. Reese also answered God's call to the ministry. He began his pastoral ministry by serving the congregations of Macedonia and Mt. Zion Selfield. Reverend Dr. Reese was the Pastor of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church for 50 years, making a lasting impact on the Selma community.

Dr. Reese was a true renaissance man. For his outstanding contributions, he has received numerous awards and honors. Dr. Reese was a civil rights icon, exemplary educator, beloved pastor, loving husband, doting father and grandfather. Dr. Reese brought Selma and this nation out of the turbulent darkness and then went on to be among its first African American city councilmen and rose through the ranks of the Selma School System to be principal of Eastside Junior High School, principal of Selma High School and eventually Assistant Superintendent from which he retired.

In his passing, Dr. Reese leaves behind his wife Mrs. Alline Reese; son Marvin (Frances), Conyers, GA; daughters Minister Valerie (Ed) Harris, and Minister Christa Reese; grandsons Marvin (Charlene) Reese Jr, Minister Alan (Kimberly) Reese and Frederick Reese, Conyers, GA; great grandchildren Kyla Russell, Zaria Reese, Jada Mains, Faith Reese, Jaylen Reese, Alan Reese Jr, and Maliyah Reese, Conyers, GA.

On a personal note, I will fondly remember Dr. Reese as my principal and mentor at Selma High School who always told me that anything was possible. I know that I am Alabama's first Black congresswoman today because of the activism and influence of Dr. F.D. Reese. To say thank you does not adequately express my gratitude. One of my greatest honors as a Member of Congress was to present Dr. Reese with the gold medal at the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony that honored the foot soldiers on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights March. Dr. Reese's life and legacy stand as a testament to the power of one man's ability to change the world. His legacy will live on in the many people he impacted.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 7th Congressional District, the State of Alabama, and a grateful nation, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life and contributions of Reverend Dr. Frederick Douglas Reese. Dr. Reese was an American hero, a national treasure and a beloved Selma native son whose life's fight for voting rights forever shaped the fabric of American history.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Judson College President Dr. David Potts of Marion, Alabama. I join with my constituents in mourning the recent passing of Dr. Potts, an exemplary educator, visionary longtime college president of Judson and a beloved member of the Marion community whose life's work influenced so many and helped to shape the advancement of Alabama's Black Belt.

Dr. Potts was born on July 1, 1950 to Louise and Alton Potts, in Birmingham, Alabama. He grew up understanding the importance of a good education. His parents often stressed that a quality education was the key to improving one's lot in life.

As a proud graduate of Ramsey High School, Dr. Potts took his parents' advice to heart, and enrolled at Samford University, in Birmingham, AL, where he earned both a B.A. and M.S. in Education. Dr. Potts went on to enroll in the University of Alabama where he received his Ph.D. in Higher Education.

In 1980, Dr. Potts began his service at Judson College in Marion, Alabama as its Vice President for Development. In this role, he was instrumental in establishing the Adult Degree Program, a non- traditional, external degree program for adult learners that would grow into Judson's Distance Learning Program. Dr. Potts briefly returned to Samford in 1985 to organize and implement ``The Samford Commitment,'' a $28 million capital campaign, and later rejoined the Judson administration as Executive Vice President for Administration in 1987. In this role, Dr. Potts sought to create a student-centered campus culture driven by continuous improvement, based on research completed for his doctoral dissertation.

In 1990, Dr. Potts was appointed President of Judson College by its Board of Trustees. Dr. Potts left a lasting legacy during his 28-year tenure as President of Judson. The list of his accomplishments at the college was as numerous as the many lives of those he impacted. Dr. Potts grew Judson's endowment from $2 million to $19 million dollars and raised $35 million through capital campaigns for new construction and facility restoration, including the refurbishment of Judson's historic Jewett Hall. Nine new academic programs were added under his leadership, including three of the five largest majors currently pursued by Judson students. Throughout his tenure as president, the college increased the diversity of its faculty and student body and remained faithful to its Christian mission.

In addition to his exceptional service at Judson, Dr. Potts also worked to improve higher education across the Southeast. He served as both a Commissioner and an Executive Council Member for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the regional body that accredits Judson and hundreds of others colleges and universities in the Southeastern United States. He served as a member or chair of countless SACSCOC on-site review committees, designed to help colleges measure their effectiveness. In 2013, Dr. Potts was honored with the James T. Rogers Distinguished Leadership Award for Outstanding Contributions to Higher Education by SACSCOC in recognition of his lifetime contributions to the field of higher education.

As a committed civic leader, Dr. Potts made enormous contributions to the community. He was a founding board member of Sowing Seeds of Hope, a faith-based, non-profit organization seeking to address the root causes of poverty in Alabama. As a member of Sowing Seeds of Hope's Board of Directors and Health Care Task Force, Dr. Potts helped bring a dialysis center to Marion, promoted programs that helped children gain health insurance coverage, and actively worked toward the re-opening of a hospital in Perry County. He was a former president of Alabama Possible, formerly the Alabama Poverty Project, an organization co-founded by his father, former Alabama Baptist Convention executive secretary A. Earl Potts, which seeks to raise awareness of poverty issues statewide.

In his passing, Dr. Potts is survived by his wife of 44 years, Beth Bloodworth Potts; his daughters, Kristin Potts Helton (John) and Shannon Louise Potts (Phil); eight grandchildren, Gavin, Harper, John David, Laura Beth, Levi, Patch, Ryder, and Teague; and his sister, Elizabeth ``Libby'' Louise Potts (Dale Peterson).

On a personal note, Dr. Potts made a profound impact on my life and the lives of so many in my district. His passion for education was equal to his love of his community and his deep compassion for mankind. I am forever grateful for his dedication and tireless advocacy on behalf of the people of Alabama's rural Black Belt. In him, I saw a kindred spirit in our shared and unwavering belief in the people of the Black Belt. Despite the many obstacles, Dr. Potts saw the myriad of possibilities and unharnessed potential in the beauty and natural resources that the Black Belt had to offer. Through his dedicated efforts, he has left our community a better place for all and for that he will forever be remembered for his leadership, brilliance, and kindness.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of Dr. David Potts. On behalf of the 7th Congressional District, the State of Alabama, and this nation, we pay tribute to his distinguished contributions for the betterment of the State of Alabama, and extend deep appreciation for his exemplary service as President of Judson College.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of a young student leader and bright light in the Birmingham community, Courtlin La'Shawn Arrington. Courtlin was a native of Birmingham, Alabama, and a senior at Huffman High School who passed in a tragic act of gun violence on March 7, 2018. Courtlin was an outstanding student, with an engaging personality and a big heart. I speak for Birmingham when I say that we are devastated by her loss. Courtlin was a part of our community and she will be greatly missed.

Courtlin was born on April 17, 2000 to Tynesha Tatum and Courtney Arrington at Cooper Green Hospital in Birmingham, AL. She was educated in the Birmingham City School System and was a graduating Senior at Huffman High School. Courtlin had dreams of becoming a nurse. According to her family members, nursing was a family career and Courtlin had dreamed of being a nurse since she was very young. Just a few months shy of graduation, Courtlin planned to work as a nurse's assistant until she earned her RN. The faculty, students and staff of Huffman High School remember Courtlin as a constant source of enthusiasm, intelligence, and beauty both inside and out. They believed there was no limit to what she may have achieved.

Her sister Tamera Tatum said Courtlin never had any doubt that she would become a nurse after graduation, and that whatever she put her mind to, she was able to achieve. Courtlin had the same unstoppable attitude. She believed that anything was possible with the right attitude and hard work. Before her tragic death, Courtlin was on the road to living her dreams, and had even received acceptance letters from several colleges.

Outside of the classroom, Courtlin was more than a dedicated student and aspiring nurse. To her friends, she will be remembered as an exceptional, loving person who cared deeply about the people around her. Courtlin was a beloved sister to her siblings, brother and sister Gera'Mich and Tamera, lovingly known as the ``Trio 3.'' Courtlin and her siblings cherished their time together, with Courtlin often taking on a motherly role in the group. She was fun, she was caring, and when she needed to, she kept her brother and sister in line.

Courtlin relied heavily on her faith, confessing Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at a very early age. She relied on her faith in God to carry her through both the good and bad in life and she enjoyed visiting various churches in the greater Birmingham area. One of her favorite churches to visit was The Rock Church where Pastor Mike McClure taught her the importance of her Christian duties. She exhibited those teachings in wanting to help others. She believed her passion for nursing to be her life's ministry. For the community of Birmingham, Courtlin's passing hits especially hard, pushing students and adults in the area to demand something better. Courtlin's family hopes her death will bring change--change in school safety measures and more parent accountability for all children. They don't want her death to be in vain. They don't want another parent to have to go through the experience of losing their child to gun violence.

As a Member of Congress, I believe that we have a responsibility to protect our schools from gun violence, accidental or otherwise. Every year more students and teachers, sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters are killed in school shootings--we need to do everything in our power to make this incident the last. We cannot settle for symbolic gestures in Congress when our children's lives are at stake. I am committed to working together to ensure that this type of tragedy never occurs again.

Left to cherish the amazing memories of Courtlin are: loving mother, Tynesha Tatum; father, Courtney Arrington; stepfather, Derrick Hardy; sister, Tamera Tatum; brother, Gera'Mich Tatum; grandmother, Terrie Tatum; grandfathers, Zac Arrington and Timothy (Carolyn) Hardgrove; uncles, William (Shekeitha) Tatum, John Tatum and Tamarreo (Inger) Tatum; great uncles, Buch Tatum, William Tatum and Anthony (Ella) Bryant; two special cousins, Sid'Liyah Williams and Creonna Broadnax; special friend, Darius Craig; three best friends, Serinity, Makayla and Lemond; a very close family friend, Amy McClease; a host of uncles, aunts, cousins and other friends.

On behalf of the 7th Congressional District, the State of Alabama, and this nation, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Courtlin La'Shawn Arrington--an outstanding young person who left a lasting impact on the community of Birmingham, Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and

legacy of the late Mallieve Lenora Wicker Breeding. Breeding was a beloved member of the Selma community, investing hours in the city's school system and the development of her community.

Breeding was born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Albert Wicker, on August 29, 1921, as one of three children. Breeding grew up understanding the importance of a good education. Her parents often stressed that a quality education was the key to improving one's lot in life.

As a proud graduate of Tremont High School in Selma, Breeding took her parents' advice to heart, and matriculated at Huntingdon College, in Montgomery, AL. It was during this time when Breeding met and married the love of her life, USAF Lieutenant Colonel Charles Norton Breeding. Lt. Col. Breeding was an instructor at the Maxwell Air Force Base and the two met while Breeding was serving as a hostess on behalf of Huntingdon College.

Breeding said it was commitment, trust, communication and lots of love that kept their bond alive. The Breeding's marriage produced three beautiful children and lasted 54 years, until the death of Lt. Col. Breeding. Breeding loved being a mother, and she considered her children Charles, Beverly and Nancy to be her life's greatest achievement.

Outside of her duties as wife and mother, Breeding loved to volunteer in the community. Lovingly known as Selma's ``Madam Butterfly,'' Breeding received state and national awards for her volunteer service efforts in the public school system. She was involved in the development of butterfly gardens and was responsible for Selma being declared the Butterfly Capital of Alabama.

In 1968, she was the winner of Auburn University's W. Mosely Kelly Environmental Award for achievements in forestry, wildlife and related resources. She was a charter member of the ``Tale Telling,'' was a member of the Benjamin Sterling Turner Memorial Committee and organized the Bicentennial Tree Program, which became the Selma Beautification Council.

Breeding was a member of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church. She used her faith as a driving force for her volunteer work. Breeding believed the Lord had given everyone specific gifts in order to help their communities.

In her passing, Breeding leaves behind her daughters, Beverly (George) Perkins of Sylacauga and Nancy (Hartley) Smith of Selma; grandchildren, Tom (Terri) Perkins of Nolensville, Tennessee, Dena Perkins (Brett), Adair of Mountain Brook, Alabama, David Perkins of Birmingham, Alabama, Rachel Smith (Brent) Evans of Middletown, Delaware, Christopher A. Smith of Springs Grove, Illinois and Cindy Breeding (Lee) Holmes of Dothan, Alabama, and 12 great-grandchildren.

On behalf of the 7th Congressional District, the State of Alabama, and this nation, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of Mallieve Lenora Wicker Breeding. We pay tribute to her distinguished contributions for the betterment of the State of Alabama, and extend deep appreciation for her exemplary service to the community of Selma, Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the black women in our country who have, for decades, led this nation's fight for justice without the recognition they deserve.

Some are calling 2018 the year of the black woman. This year, black women are proving the strength of their voice at the ballot box, black women are running for office in record numbers, and black women are leading movements against sexual harassment and police violence. But I believe that 2018 is the year of the black woman because, after decades of activism and advocacy, this is our year to give black women the recognition they deserve.

As we celebrate women's history month, let's reflect on the fact that today's story of the suffrage movement so often imagines America's suffragettes as uniformly white. That was not the case. From Sojourner Truth to Nannie Helen Burroughs, we must remember the courageous black women who stood up for their right to vote.

Let us remember Ida B. Wells, who led the fight for women's rights but was asked to march at the back of the women's suffrage parade because she was black. She refused, she persisted, and she marched with her state's delegation for her right to vote.

Black women have not only led our nation's fight for justice for decades, but they have understood the true nature of injustice for just as long.

Today's social justice movements have taken ahold of the concept of intersectionality--the fact that race, class and gender, do not exist separately but create interwoven systems of discrimination.

It was a black woman--Kimberle Crenshaw--who originally coined the term ``intersectionality'' in 1989. But even before intersectionality was a word, it was black women who knew the truth about the injustices of discrimination in America.

It was 1893 when a black suffragette named Anna Julia Cooper said,

``The colored woman feels that woman's cause is one and universal; and that not till the image of God, whether in parian or ebony, is sacred and inviolable; not till race, color, sex, and condition are seen as the accidents, and not the substance of life; not till the universal title of humanity to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is conceded to be inalienable to all; not till then is woman's lesson taught and woman's cause won.''

Generations of black women have fought, bled and died for their right to vote. And so many of these heroes are from my home state of Alabama. It was the death of four little black girls in the bombing of Birmingham's 16th St. Baptist Church that awakened our nation to the realities of violent racism. Heroes like Recy Taylor, Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin and Autherine Lucy Foster--to name only a few--stood up against brut violence to build a world where men and women of every race and class have the opportunities they deserve.

As we celebrate Women's History Month, we must not only remember the sacrifices they made, but the work that remains to be done

in their fight for justice. These women passed onto us the rights and the opportunities that we enjoy today, but they also handed down a responsibility to carry on their work, fighting not just for women, not just for African Americans, but for all people, against all injustice.

Today, I'm proud to see so many black women leading that fight. From the Black Lives Matter movement to the Me Too movement, their contributions and their leadership are changing the way our society understands and addresses discrimination and injustice.

This Women's History Month, in the Year of the Black Woman, I want to use this moment to recognize the countless black women who have spent their lives fighting to make America live up to its ideals, as well as all those black women who are still alive today carrying on that fight.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 133rd Elected and Consecrated Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop Harry L. Seawright. After more than 30 years in ministry, Bishop Seawright is currently presiding prelate of Alabama's 9th Episcopal District for the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Bishop Seawright was born in Swansea, South Carolina as the youngest child to the late Joe Nathan and Mary L. Seawright. Born into a family of sharecroppers, Bishop Seawright says, ``the work was hard and the profits were few but the family cared deeply for one another.'' Bishop Seawright was just five years old when his father passed away, leaving his mother to raise seven children alone. ``The insurance we got after my father passed was just enough to cover my father's casket and that was it,'' Bishop Seawright said. ``The next eight years after that was a real struggle for my family.''

Equipped with only a ninth grade education, Mrs. Mary Seawright decided to relocate the family after her husband's death in hopes of providing her children with a better life. The decision would move them through six different homes over the course of the next eight years. ``My mother was a praying woman,'' Bishop Seawright said. ``She had a lot of faith and courage.'' His mother took on various domestic jobs in order to facilitate her children's growth. She stressed to her children that with faith, education and hard work anything was possible.

His mother's passion for education became a driving force for Bishop Seawright, who with the help of his family, enrolled at Benedict College in South Carolina. Bishop Seawright says it was during his sophomore year of college while working with a student Christian organization that he first heard his call to ministry. He began speaking at Vespa services on January 23, 1977.

After graduating from Benedict College with his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, he enrolled at the Howard University School of Divinity, where he received both his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees. Following graduation, Bishop Seawright began his appointment as Interim Pastor of St. Stephen AME, in St. Matthews, SC.

He served on the ministerial staffs of Reid Temple AME and Pilgrim AME, both in Washington, D.C. His pastoral appointments were: Payne Memorial AME, Jessup, MD; Hemingway Temple AME, Washington, D.C.; and Union Bethel AME, Brandywine and Temple Hills, MD. He served Union Bethel for 30 years, the longest tenure of any other pastor in the church's 130-year history.

In 1991, Bishop Seawright led Union Bethel in the construction of a $1.6 million sanctuary. Union Bethel has over 50 innovative ministries. In 2001, Union Bethel opened a satellite church in Temple Hills, MD, and Union Bethel North (previously known as Union Bethel Intergenerational Center, Inc.--IGC) was birthed. This second church location holds Sunday worship services, Church School, weekly Bible Study and Intercessory Prayer. For nine years, Union Bethel operated FOCUS (For Our Children's Unity School) daycare and kindergarten. FOCUS students received a strong Christian and academic foundation. Union Bethel's ministries and services blessed thousands of people in the county annually. Bishop Seawright spent over 39 years in ministry, specializing in community leadership, church construction and development.

It was early during his ministerial journey that Bishop Seawright met his future wife, Sherita Moon Seawright. ``She was beautiful, accepting and very smart,'' Bishop Seawright said. ``And she always encouraged me in her way.'' He was just a sophomore in college when they met and the two would go on to marry in 1982, two years after they started dating. The union brought about two beautiful children, Shari Nicole and Harry Matthew. ``They are my world,'' Bishop Seawright said. ``Having them brought love to a new meaning.''

In 2016, after more than 30 years with Union Bethel, Bishop Seawright prepared to take on his new appointment in Alabama's 9th Episcopal District. The opportunity relocated the Bishop and his family to Birmingham, Alabama. The move allowed Bishop Seawright to focus on encouraging other pastors and also provided an opportunity to develop a few programs including the Life Center at Daniel Payne Plaza.

Daniel Payne Plaza provides people struggling in the community with an opportunity to earn their GED and gain certifications in a multitude of vocational areas, including food preparation and construction. The goal is to transform how the 9th district serves not only the church, but the community. Bishop Seawright says because of his upbringing he understands the value of education and is determined to provide that opportunity to those he serves.

Bishop Seawright has preached for over 30 years and has faithfully served the AME church and his community. His exemplary work has earned him the respect and admiration of his fellow ministers, church members, government and community leaders. On a personal note, I want to thank Bishop Seawright for his continued support and encouragement of my home church, the Historic Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma, AL.

On behalf of the 7th Congressional District, the State of Alabama and this nation, I ask my

colleagues to join me in celebrating the many accomplishments of Bishop Harry L. Seawright. We pay tribute to his distinguished career for the betterment of the State of Alabama and extend deep appreciation for his exemplary service as the Presiding Prelate of the 9th Episcopal District.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 620.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University of Alabama Crimson Tide on their NCAA Football National Championship win against the University of Georgia Bulldogs.

In a historic comeback, the Crimson Tide overcame a 13-0 deficit to win the game in overtime and to return the title to Tuscaloosa. With this year's victory, the University of Alabama wins its 17th national title, by far the most of any school in the modern era of football.

This is head coach Nick Saban's fifth championship win in just nine seasons.

Mr. Speaker, no other school has won, even, any more than three national championships in any 10-year period.

This year's victory is an extraordinary record which further cements Coach Saban's status as one of the greatest college football coaches of all times.

Likewise, I want to congratulate the players. As Coach Saban said, this was a true team victory. From running backs Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris to wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Devonta Smith to defensive powerhouses Minkah Fitzpatrick and Raekwon Davis to true freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, every player stepped up to the challenge and demonstrated resilience and grit for all four quarters and into overtime.

I also want to recognize quarterback Jalen Hurts. While he did not finish the game, Jalen led the Tide all the way to the national championships twice, with an impressive 25-2 record in his two seasons. Thank you to Jalen for his leadership and his gracious sportsmanship and being such a good sport throughout the whole game.

Finally, I want to commend the Georgia Bulldogs on a fantastic season and a hard-fought championship game. Coach Kerby Smart and the Dogs were a worthy opponent, and I know that they will give us a run for our title next season.

My friend Representative Jody Hice, who represents the University of Georgia, made a friendly bet with me before the game, and he will honor his wager this week. On Thursday, he will join me on the Capitol steps wearing a Bear Bryant houndstooth hat, as well as an Alabama tie, to commemorate and celebrate Alabama's victory.

He will also serve Georgia barbecue to my staff for lunch. I thank Jody for being such a good sport.

In closing, I want to again congratulate the University of Alabama Crimson Tide on their 17th national football title. What a game. And as we say in Alabama: Roll Tide.