Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Evans for yielding. He has so ably represented and led the Second District of Pennsylvania. It has been an honor to call the gentleman my colleague.

I want to say, Mr. Speaker, that today I join with my CBC colleagues in honoring the extraordinary life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 50 years after his tragic death. Today we honor and celebrate the man who led our country in the fight against racism and injustice, a man who forged tools of nonviolence and compassion so that our Nation could break the chains of segregation and Jim Crow. Today we honor a man who refused to believe that racism and war would define our future, and who fought to ensure that truth and love would be the final word.

As the United States Representative of Alabama's historic civil rights district, I know that Dr. King's selfless sacrifices changed the trajectory of our Nation's history and changed the lives of so many families in my district and around the world.

When Birmingham was one of the most segregated cities in America, it was Dr. King who brought the civil rights movement home to Alabama during the Birmingham campaign. When four little Black girls were killed in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, it was Dr. King who delivered their eulogy and who refused to let their deaths go unnoticed.

Mr. Speaker, when the police beat marchers on a bridge in my hometown in Alabama who were simply marching for the equal right to vote, it was Dr. King who helped Dr. Reese and so many others to organize that march from Selma to Montgomery.

It was foot soldiers like the honorable John Lewis, whom I am honored every day to be able to call colleague, who sacrificed their lives for the opportunity of a next generation to have the dream that so many wanted and fought for.

There are constituents in my district, the civil rights and voting rights foot soldiers, who marched with Dr. King, who answered the call to fight for justice. These foot soldiers faced fire hoses, police dogs, and nightsticks so that future generations of Americans could now have the equal right to vote.

Mr. Speaker, I get to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge just to go home to see my folks and to visit my family in Selma, Alabama, to go to my hometown to visit my friends who live in a place that still needs help.

There is still some unfinished business of civil rights and voting rights. It is my great honor to invite year after year so many to come--thousands--walk in the footsteps of John Lewis with John Lewis. It doesn't get any better than that.

For me to be able to see that I am the Member from Alabama, I know that I stand on the shoulders of John Lewis and so many others. But I also know that I must get off his shoulders and that I must do the hard work and the unfinished business that is civil rights and voting rights in America. As long as there is voter suppression and people are not allowed to vote in this country, we have work to do. We have lots of work to do.

We must do our own work. It is not enough to just say thank you. It is not enough that we come before every year to reenact the march from Selma to Montgomery. It is not just about reenactment. It is about what we do day in and day out to further the dream that is Dr. King's to build that beloved community that we talked about.

I get to see up close John Lewis and know that he is not just talking the talk. He walks the walk every day. There are times when I am purely frustrated in this House, frustrated because there is so much work that we need to do and so much work that we don't do because of our dysfunction. When I get tired, I just look over at John Lewis, and I think to myself: this man never was tired.

The hard work was done by so many before us, and those of us who get to walk these Halls of Congress have to decide what we are going to do to help further that dream. Dr. King's life was not in vain. John Lewis' work is not in vain.

There are so many of us who know that we stand on the gentleman's shoulders and know that, in order for this country to live up to its ideals of justice and democracy for all, we must--every generation must--continue that fight.

It was Dr. King who wrote a letter from a Birmingham jail that talked about injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. And there are injustices everywhere. So we have work to do. We, the members of the CBC, take that challenge very seriously. But we Members of Congress of this House, this august body, must take that work seriously, too. That work is not work that is Republican work versus Democratic work. It is America's work. It is the work of our democracy.

It is the work that we must do that our constituents sent us here to do that so often is stifled by our rhetoric, stifled by our inability to see beyond our party, and stifled by so many things. But I know for a fact that when we work hand in hand together, Republicans and Democrats, Blacks and Whites, those from different religions, that we can do amazing things. We know that because of the life and legacy of Dr. King.

So on this 50th anniversary of his death, let us not mourn. Let us recommit. Let us recommit ourselves to that

which he stood for, for that which John Lewis stands for, and that is justice for all, irrespective of what country they come from.

We are tried and tested every day, and it is important that we remember that we can all walk across that Edmund Pettus Bridge by doing the hard work of seeking justice and equality for all people just because they are people.

I honor again the great work of Dr. Martin Luther King.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of Mrs. Recy Taylor, an extraordinary Alabamian whose story and fight for justice was an early catalyst of the Civil Rights Movement.

Mrs. Recy Corbitt Taylor was born on December 31, 1919, to a family of sharecroppers in Abbeville, Alabama. She cared for her six younger siblings after her mother died when she was 17.

On September 3, 1944, at the age of 24, Mrs. Taylor, a wife and mother to a 3-year old daughter, was walking home from a church service at Rock Hill Holiness Church with a friend. A car full of young white men pulled up, and the men ordered Mrs. Taylor into the car at gunpoint. She was then blindfolded, brutally raped, and abandoned in the woods.

In the Jim Crow South, Mrs. Taylor and other black women who dared come forward were threatened, shamed, and harassed for speaking out. Despite being threatened by her perpetrators and local law enforcement, Mrs. Taylor decided to seek justice and tried to identify her rapists.

Because she spoke up, Mrs. Recy Taylor received death threats and her home was firebombed by white supremacists. As a result, she, her husband, and their young daughter moved in with her father and siblings the following day. Her younger siblings were no longer allowed to play in the front yard. According to reports, her father would sleep outside at night, watching over the family while cradling a shotgun for protection.

The strength and resolve Mrs. Taylor showed over 70 years ago should compel all of us to remain vigilant in seeking justice for all victims of sexual assault today. The courage being demonstrated today by victims of sexual violence is fueled, in part, by the bravery shown by Mrs. Recy Taylor and many other victims of sexual assault.

Like so many racially motivated rapes and crimes during the Jim Crow era, the perpetrators were never arrested. When a grand jury met in October 1944, no suspects in Mrs. Recy Taylor's case had been arrested so there was no police lineup for Mrs. Taylor to identify the perpetrators. The grand jury failed to indict any of the men linked to Mrs. Recy Taylor's assault.

Rosa Parks, who began her career as an anti-rape activist, was called upon by the NAACP to investigate the case, determine why no arrests were made, and build public support for Mrs. Taylor. She was threatened and intimidated by the deputy sheriff when she came to Abbeville to interview Mrs. Taylor. Nevertheless, she persisted, later creating the ``Alabama Committee for Equal Justice for Mrs. Recy Taylor'' triggering a movement to seek justice. Word spread nationally about Mrs. Recy Taylor's case through the black press. Mrs. Parks spearheaded a letter writing campaign urging Alabama Governor Chauncey Sparks to investigate the crime further.

After additional pressure from activists like W. E. B. DuBois, Mary Church Terrell, and Langston Hughes, the Governor sent investigators to Abbeville. They found that the Sheriff had lied about arresting the men. Despite a confession by one of the men, a second grand jury refused to indict the men in February 1945.

Mrs. Recy Taylor's courage and the network of black women that came together to defend her built a foundation for the Montgomery Bus Boycott over a decade later. Every movement since from the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s to the Women's Marches in 2017 have been influenced by the determination of Mrs. Recy Taylor, Mrs. Rosa Parks, and so many women like them. Most notably, Mrs. Taylor's case has been the impetus for a movement to end impunity for sexual violence committed throughout history.

Mrs. Taylor's story gained renewed attention with the 2010 publication of a book by historian Danielle McGuire entitled, ``At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance--a New History of the Civil Rights Movement From Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power.''

The book prompted long-overdue apologies from the mayor of Abbeville, the county, and a strongly worded apology from the state of Alabama in 2011. The resolution, introduced by Rep. Dexter Grimsley in the state house and Senator Billy Beasley in the state senate, acknowledged, ``the lack of prosecution for crimes committed against Recy Taylor by the government of the State of Alabama . . . was, and is, morally abhorrent and repugnant.'' The resolution went on to express ``profound regret for the role played by the government of the State of Alabama in failing to prosecute the crimes.'' The resolution was formally presented to Mrs. Taylor on Mother's Day at the church where she had worshipped the night of her attack, now known as Abbeville Memorial Church of God in Christ.

Mrs. Taylor passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2017, just days shy of her 98th birthday.

Mrs. Taylor's story is a pivotal link in the ever evolving pursuit of justice for victims of sexual assault.

I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering and honoring an icon and an American treasure, Mrs. Recy Taylor. Her legacy continues to live on in the countless lives she touched and fuel justice for victims of sexual violence in all communities, especially for those who feel like they have no voice. May the blessing of God be with her family, including her brother, Mr. Robert Corbitt, two sisters, Mary Murry and Liffie Kinsey, granddaughter, and great-grandchildren, and friends as they celebrate her life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of the late Walter Howlett, Jr. Walter was a beloved member of the Birmingham community, investing not only in the city's business development but in community development as well.

Walter was born to Walter Howlett, Sr. and Laura Richardson Howlett, the second of seven children. Walter 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.

A proud graduate of A.H. Parker High School in Birmingham, Walter took his parents' advice to heart, holding dreams of attaining a business degree. But those dreams were put on hold when he was drafted into the United States Army shortly after finishing high school.

After serving for a year in the military, Walter returned home and completed his college education. Attending both Jefferson State Community College and the University of Alabama in Birmingham, Walter attained a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and went on to earn his Certified Public Accountant license.

As his parents had said, Walter's education would indeed impact his lot in life. Soon after graduation he became a beloved protege of civil rights activist, A.G. Gaston. Mr. Gaston created the first black bank and the first African American funeral homes along with countless other firsts for the black community.

It was his endearment and admiration for Mr. Gaston that helped to spur a more than 30-year career with the Gaston Corp., devoting countless hours to the development of some of Birmingham's most affluent and successful black-owned businesses. In 2003, Walter was appointed CEO of the A.G. Gaston Construction Co.

In spite of all his success in business, Walter still considered his family and faith to be his highest priorities, specifically his four children: Mondra Howlett, Cadeshia Howlett Samuel, Tameka Howlett, and Damien Howlett, and his wife, Deborah Howlett.

The Howletts' love story began in 2012. Shortly after the loss of his mother, friends and family say the meeting was a true blessing in Walter's life, and that she put a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face. Two years later, in September of 2014, the couple exchanged vows. Mrs. Howlett says her life's greatest joy was the time they had together. Walter was an active member of Bethel Baptist Church in Collegeville, participating in various areas of ministry from the choir to serving as an usher. Walter lived by the motto, ``find a need and fill it,'' a lesson learned by Mr. Gaston. He believed service to one's community was not an obligation but a privilege. In the course of his life Walter served on numerous boards including the United Way of Central Birmingham, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. He considered it a great joy to give back to the community he said gave him so much.

In his passing Walter leaves behind four siblings including: Birdie Lee Howlett, Patricia Howlett Peterson, James Lee Howlett, and Fredia Gail Howlett, his other siblings Willie Maud Jenkins and Jay Jerome Howlett are both deceased.

On a personal note, Walter was a cherished mentor and a dear friend. He was a dedicated servant-leader who knew the importance of ``each one, teach one.'' Walter believed in mentoring young people and I was grateful that he was so supportive of my candidacy and always offered his wise counsel. His commitment to excellence and passion for business and entrepreneurship will live on through the many lives he touched.

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 Walter Howlett, Jr. We pay tribute to his distinguished career and contributions for the betterment of the State of Alabama, and extend deep appreciation for his exemplary service to the community of Birmingham, Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 697.

Mr. Speaker, the Republican majority is ramming this tax bill through, calling it a Christmas gift to the American people. I have never seen such intellectual dishonesty in my life. It is more like the Grinch who stole Christmas.

In poll after poll and through elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and my home State of Alabama, the American people continue to send a message that they do not want this tax bill to move forward. But here we are watching the fiscal hawks of the Republican Party blow through every red light on the way off the cliff, adding $1.5 trillion to the deficit.

What is the rush, I ask you. Last week, the American people in my home State of Alabama spoke up and spoke out. We deserve to have our duly elected Senator to vote on this bill.

What is the rush? Not one hearing, not one expert testifying, and no regular order. I ask you, Mr. Speaker, what is the rush?

I believe the rush is because they know this is not tax reform. It is a tax sham. The American people deserve better. My constituents from Alabama deserve better. We should vote ``no'' on this tax bill.

Mr. Speaker, during Roll Call votes held on December 18, 2017, I was inescapably detained handling important matters related to my District and the State of Alabama. Had I been present, I would have voted No on Roll Call No. 685, the Motion to Fix the Convening Times and YEA on Roll Call Nos. 686 and 687, which are as follows: H.R. 4375, and STEM Research and Education Effectiveness and Transparency Act, and H.R. 3979, Keep America's Refuges Operation Act.

Mr. Speaker, during Roll Call votes held on December 12, 2017, I was inescapably detained handling important matters related to my District and the State of Alabama. Had I been present, I would have voted YES on the Democratic Motion to Recommit H.R. 3971, and NO on Final Passage of H.R. 3971.

Mr. Speaker, we are not ready for conference. The Senate bill was written by lobbyists in the dead of night when Republicans hoped no one was paying attention. There was no CBO score, no debate, no time to even read the bill, and now the majority thinks this bill is ready to go to conference? Really? Not.

The House and Senate bills will put us at least $1.4 trillion into debt, will cause cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and will raise taxes on 82 million Americans.

Mr. Speaker, this is a bad deal for Americans, and it is an even worse deal for my constituents in Alabama. In my State of Alabama, over 500,000 families making $80,000 a year or less will see a tax increase. It will result in $205 million being taken away from teachers and students, and it will put $168 million in charitable donations at risk.

These bills are not for the middle class. These bills will do enormous damage to the middle class.

Mr. Speaker, we are not ready for conference.

Mr. Speaker, during Roll Call votes held on November 28, 2017, I was inescapably detained handling important matters related to my District and the State of Alabama. Had I been present, I would have voted YES on H.R. 2768, and NO on H.R. 3115

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to reject this misguided and mean-spirited tax bill that is being rushed through this Congress today.

Mr. Speaker, this Republican sham tax bill picks winners and losers. The winners under this tax bill are corporations, Wall Street fat cats, the top 1 percent of the highest wage earners in America, and the special interests. The losers are the middle class, working families, students, the most vulnerable in our society, and our farmers.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the National Farmers Union, which objects to this bill.

National Farmers Union,

November 14, 2017.

Congressional Tax Plans Jeopardize the Farm Safety Net, CBO Analysis

Says

For Immediate Release.

Contact: Andrew Jerome.

Washington.--Amidst the steepest drop in farm profitability

in a generation, U.S. Congressional leadership is proposing

tax reform legislation that would jeopardize all funding for

farm bill commodity safety net programs.

The two tax bills being considered in both the U.S. Senate

and the U.S. House of Representatives would add $1.5 trillion

to the federal deficit. According to new Congressional Budget

Office analysis of the bills, that $1.5 trillion deficit

increase would need to be offset by eliminating all funding

for vital farm programs such as Agriculture Risk Coverage

(ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), among other mandatory

federal spending programs.

``If Congress passes legislation that increases the

deficit, they will subsequently be forced to cut federal

spending. In the case of the tax bill, current law could

require 100 percent sequestration of all commodity program

payments and other farm bill programs,'' said National

Farmers Union President Roger Johnson ``Tax cuts for the

highest income brackets should absolutely not come at the

expense of programs that protect our nation's family farmers

and ranchers.''

The House and Senate budget resolution that was passed

earlier this year paves the way for tax cuts that would

increase the U.S. federal deficit by $1.5 trillion over ten

years Statutory pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rules require that

increases in deficit spending be offset by reduced spending

across non-exempt mandatory programs The government would be

required to cut such programs by $150 billion per year in

accordance with PAYGO.

The total available pool of funding across all non-exempt

mandatory programs amounts to, in CBO's estimation, ``only

between $85 billion to $90 billion,'' meaning that all

impacted mandatory spending programs other than Medicare,

including the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), would be

entirely stripped of funding.

The CCC is the second largest non-exempt mandatory program,

after Medicare It funds dairy and other farm program

payments, including ARC and PLC, both of which are critical

for keeping family farmers and ranchers in business during

times of economic uncertainty. Discretionary spending and a

number of mandatory programs, including Social Security, the

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), federal

crop insurance, and the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP),

are exempt from PAYGO. ``Farmers Union has long opposed using

budget sequestration to reduce the federal deficit,

especially through cuts to agricultural programs,'' added

Johnson. ``This proposal asks farmers and ranchers to trade

any possible tax benefits for the elimination of farm safety

net payments, like ARC and PLC. That would be a disastrous

trade. NFU continues to advocate for a simplified,

progressive tax code that does not risk programs vital to the

livelihoods and well-being of American family farmers and

ranchers.''

These are the very same people that this President promised to benefit.

This is what this bill does for corporate America:

It dramatically cuts rates from the largest companies in the world, moving the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent.

It creates loopholes for wealthy individuals to recharacterize their wage income as small business income so that they can pay less in taxes.

It repeals the alternative minimum tax, which captures the tax liabilities for wealthy individuals. In fact, the only tax return that we have ever seen of Mr. Trump was his 2005 tax return in which he had to pay $38 million. Why? Because of AMT.

And this tax bill will also permanently repeal the estate tax, which only affects 5,500 households in America. And I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, none of those households are in my district.

In contrast, how will this tax bill impact the middle class? Mr. Speaker, 36 million middle class households will pay more taxes. One in four taxpayers will pay more taxes.

To pay for the corporate tax cuts, this bill will hurt working families. It will eliminate deductions on interest on student loans. It will eliminate medical expense deductions, which many, many households use to pay for long-term care needs. It will eliminate

the lifetime learning credit. And it will also do away with deductions for families that pay for daycare and aging parents.

Mr. Speaker, this is not comprehensive tax reform. The American people deserve better, and we as a Congress can do better.

Please reject this bill.

Madam Speaker, our Tax Code is a statement of our values, and I can tell you that this tax bill doesn't reflect my values nor those of the American people. This bill favors the wealthy over the middle class, it favors corporations over the working families, and it favors special interests over everyday Americans.

Madam Speaker, this tax bill raises taxes for 36 million middle class Americans, and it cashes a check for $2.3 trillion worth of debt that will be left for our children and grandchildren to pay.

This tax bill gives permanent tax cuts for corporations and multinationals while making the tax cuts for regular taxpayers temporary.

This tax bill preserves tax deductions for certain industries but does away with tax cuts in the Code that help everyday Americans. It eliminates the deduction for State and local taxes. It also limits mortgage interest deductions and limits the medical expense deduction affecting 9 million households.

The independent group, the Tax Policy Center, estimates that almost half of the tax cuts, 47 percent of the tax cuts, will go to the top 1 percent.

Madam Speaker, this bill devastates education. Education is truly the investment in our human capital, our workforce. It eliminates deductions for interest on student loans. It eliminates deductions for teachers who buy supplies. It eliminates lifetime learning credits, and it eliminates employer tuition assistance.

This bill adds a special tax on the endowments of colleges and universities which will reduce scholarships and increase the cost of college for average, everyday Americans.

Cities and towns will be decimated by this bill. This bill eliminates tax incentives such as private activity bonds, new markets tax credits, and historic tax credits which dramatically affect the ability to build libraries and hospitals, and to fund roads, bridges, and broadband infrastructure. These are critical investments, Madam Speaker, in the public service that spur economic growth.

Madam Speaker, this tax bill has it backwards. This Congress should value its constituents first, not Wall Street, and not special interests--its constituents first.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this tax bill because it doesn't represent the values that our constituents sent us here to this hallowed place, Congress, to represent. We should be representing them and not the special interests.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Edmundite Missions at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Selma, Alabama.

For 80 years, the Edmundite Missions has faithfully served poor and underprivileged communities throughout the Deep South. The Edmundite Missions is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and focuses on providing food, clothing, and shelter to poor and marginalized children and families, young adults, and seniors of all faith traditions.

While the Edmundite Missions in Alabama is headquartered in Selma, their outreach area includes the Alabama counties of Butler, Dallas, Lowndes, Monroe, Perry, and Wilcox, as well as New Orleans, Louisiana.

The inspiring story of the Edmundite Missions began with a call to action when, in 1936, Pope Pius XI appealed to the Society of St. Edmund to go minister to the African Americans of the Deep South.

The Edmundites responded by selecting two young priests, Father Casey and Father Paro, to take on the assignment. They wrote to the bishop, Thomas Toolen of Mobile, who invited them to set up a ``colored mission'' in Selma.

When Fathers Casey and Paro arrived in Selma on July 6, 1937, they discovered thousands of people living in extreme poverty, similar to that of a Third World country. In response, they began their outreach by conducting door-to-door evangelism in the Black community and building a small chapel, St. Elizabeth's Mission. Initially, they were met with skepticism by both the Black and White communities in Selma, but their services to the poor gradually won them the respect of both races.

The work of the Edmundite Missions helped to transform the communities of Alabama's rural Black Belt during some of the most turbulent times of race relations in American history.

In the 1940s, the mission welcomed the Sisters of Saint Joseph from Rochester, New York, who came to Selma to provide education and social ministry. The Sisters of Saint Joseph started St. Elizabeth's School in 1941 and the Holy Infant Inn, a nursing home, in 1943.

In 1944, the Edmundites purchased the Selma Good Samaritan Hospital, a rundown infirmary for African Americans, and the sisters set out to transform that facility into a modern-day one. They established the Good Samaritan School of Nursing, the first medical training program for African-American women in the area.

Then, in 1947, Father Nelson Ziter launched the Don Bosco Boys Club, named after the patron saint of youth work. For the next 19 years, until 1966, the Don Bosco Boys Club helped hundreds of young Black youth prepare and win financial assistance needed to attend college. Father Ziter devoted countless hours and days to ensuring the success of every youth who came into the program.

On a personal note, I can attest to the transformative power of the Don Bosco Boys Club. My dad, Andrew A. Sewell, and many of his close friends credit the support, love, and guidance of Father Ziter for changing the trajectory of their lives. My dad and many of his teammates received athletic scholarships to Historically Black Colleges, becoming the first generation of college graduates in that area.

The club and its ministry helped to break the cycle of poverty for these African-American boys such that they became teachers, doctors, lawyers, and even priests.

The Sewell family is forever indebted for the generous support and assistance the Edmundite Mission has given the communities of Selma and throughout the Black Belt for over 80 years.

The Edmundites found themselves the center of controversy during the 1960s when they were the only Whites in Selma who openly supported the voting rights movement. During the 1950s and 1960s, the mission and its priests and sisters worked with Selma's Black and White leaders, its business community, and its White ministers to open the lines of communication between the races.

During the march from Selma to Montgomery, the Edmundites, led by Father Ouellet, played a very critical role. On March 7, 1965, the brutal confrontation at the Edmund Pettus Bridge caught the attention of the Nation. Scores of wounded marchers poured into the emergency room at Good Samaritan Hospital, where doctors, nurses, and sisters worked around the clock to address their medical needs.

Good Samaritan Hospital won national praise for its treatment of the victims of the infamous Bloody Sunday confrontation, including providing medical treatment, Mr. Speaker, to our beloved colleague, Congressman John Lewis.

Father Ouellet left Selma in June of 1965 on the orders of the Archbishop of

Mobile. When he left, he was given a standing ovation by his parishioners.

The citizens of Selma and the surrounding Black Belt counties have come a long way since 1937, and I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Edmundite Mission and in recognizing its many contributions.

May the glory of the Edmundites Mission continue to grow and prosper for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Edmundite Missions at Our Lady of Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Selma, Alabama. For 80 years the Edmundite Missions has faithfully served poor and underprivileged communities throughout the Deep South.

The Edmundite Missions, whose legal name is ``Fathers of St. Edmund Southern Mission'', is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and focuses on providing food, clothing and shelter to poor and marginalized children and families, young adults and seniors of all faith traditions. Their work aims to address issues of systemic poverty in the region while sharing the hope they believe only comes through faith. While the Edmundite Mission in Alabama is headquartered in Selma, their outreach area includes the Alabama counties of Butler, Dallas, Lowndes, Monroe, Perry and Wilcox, and New Orleans, Louisiana.

The inspiring story of Edmundite Missions began with a call to action when in 1936 Pope Pius XI appealed to the Society of St. Edmund to go minister to the African-Americans of the Deep South, whom the Pope felt had been neglected by both church and state. The Edmundites responded by selecting two young priests, Father Francis Casey, S.S.E. and Father John ``Barney'' Paro, S.S.E., to take on the assignment. They wrote to Bishop Thomas J. Toolen of Mobile, who invited them to set up a ``colored mission'' in Selma.

Fathers Casey and Paro arrived in Selma on July 6, 1937, and moved into a former saloon on Broad Street. They discovered thousands of people living in extreme poverty, similar to that of a third world country. In response, they began their outreach by conducting door-to- door evangelization of the black community and building a small chapel, St. Elizabeth's Mission. Initially, they were met with skepticism and resentment by both the black and white communities in Selma. But their services to the poor gradually won them respect from the community.

The work of the Edmundite Missions helped to transform the communities of Alabama's rural Black Belt during some of the most turbulent times of race relations in American history. In 1940, the Missions welcomed the Sisters of Saint Joseph (S.S.J.) from Rochester, New York, who came to Selma to provide education and social ministry. The Sisters of St. Joseph started St. Elizabeth's School in 1941 and Holy Infant Inn (a nursing home) in 1943. In 1944, the Edmundites purchased Selma Good Samaritan Hospital, a rundown infirmary for blacks, and the Sisters set about transforming it into a modern facility. They established the Good Samaritan School of Nursing, the first medical training program for African-American women in the area.

In 1947, Father Nelson Ziter launched the Don Bosco Boys' Club (1947-1966), named after the patron saint of youth work. For the next 19 years until 1966, the club helped hundreds of black youth prepare and win the financial assistance needed to attend college. Father Ziter devoted countless hours and days to ensuring the success of every youth who came into the club.

On a personal note, I can attest to the transformative power of the Don Bosco Boys' Club. My dad, Andrew A. Sewell and many of his close friends, credit the support, love and guidance of Father Ziter for changing the trajectory of their lives. My dad and many of his teammates received athletic scholarships to historically black colleges--becoming first generation college graduates. The Club and its ministry helped to break the cycle of poverty for these African American boys such that they became teachers, doctors, lawyers and even priests. The Sewell family is forever indebted to the generous support and assistance the Edmundite Missions has given to the communities of Selma and throughout the Black Belt for over 80 years.

The Mission has a long history of seeing beyond color, creed or financial status. Their philosophy was never more relevant than during the turbulent years of the civil rights and voting rights movements. The Edmundites found themselves the center of controversy during the 1960s, when they were the only whites in Selma who openly supported the voting rights movement. During the 1950s and 1960s, the Mission and its priest and sisters worked with Selma black and white leaders, its business community and its white ministers to open the lines of communication between the races. They believed that progress could be achieved in Selma without violence or confrontations.

During the March from Selma to Montgomery, the Edmundites led by Father Ouellet, played a critical role. On March 7, 1965, the brutal confrontation at the Edmund Pettus Bridge caught the attention of the nation. Scores of wounded marchers poured into the emergency room at Good Samaritan Hospital, where doctors, nurses and Sisters worked around the clock to address the crisis. Good Samaritan Hospital won national praise for its treatment of the victims of the infamous Bloody Sunday confrontation, including providing medical treatment to our colleague, Congressman John Lewis.

Father Ouellet left Selma in June of 1965, on orders from Archbishop Toolen of Mobile, who was angered by the Father's identification with the marchers and wanted a quieter response. When he said goodbye to his weeping parishioners, Father Ouellet urged them to remain loyal to the Church and to their dreams. ``All that we do we must do with love,'' he told them. ``Let there be no hatred, let there be no bitterness, and let there be no desire for any revenge.''

Reconciliation was a long time in coming, but the Missions continued to work quietly for reconciliation and racial progress. The ``Selma Accords of 1972,'' which brought about significant progress in the city, was negotiated in part by Assistant Missions Director Father James Robinson.

The incredible work done by the Edmundite Missions over the last 80 years has had life-changing impacts that reach far beyond the immediate communities they support. Today the Edmundite Missions continue to work tirelessly to provide essential nutritional, education and healthcare services and programs throughout the region. In 2016 alone, the Missions provided more than 300,000 meals, helped house or assisted to clothe more than 6,000 people, aided in the healthcare of more than 2,000 people and participated in the education of more than 10,000 children.

The citizens of Selma and surrounding Black Belt counties have come a long way since 1937, when Edmundite Missionaries began their work there. For 80 years, the Edmundite Missions has partnered with distressed, underserved communities to provide direct action and assistance to alleviate the conditions of poverty in Deep South. We are stronger, more inclusive and better resourced because of their efforts.

I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the Edmundite Missions and in recognizing its many contributions. May the glory of Edmundite Missions continue to grow and prosper for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the City of Birmingham's kick-off celebrations for ``Alabama 200,'' a three year campaign to commemorate the people and places of Alabama in recognition of its 200 years of statehood. This week Birmingham launches its bicentennial theme, ``I'm Coming Home'', at the Alabama Theatre in downtown historic district.

Alabama 200 offers the opportunity to look back at the state's unique and diverse history. For the City of Birmingham, it's a chance to highlight and remember contributions of the wonderful people from the City who have helped shape our great state and change this nation.

I believe it is befitting that during the 2017 Magic City Classic football weekend that we pay special tribute to the outstanding contributions of Birmingham's musical luminaries.

A few of Birmingham's biggest musical giants, include The Blind Boys of Alabama, Lionel Hampton and the amazing talent of The Temptations, comprised of Eddie Kendricks, Dennis Edwards, Paul Williams, and Melvin Franklin. Between these Birmingham men there are a total of eight Grammys, numerous White House performances and several Hall of Fame inductions. Through the course of their careers they became regarded as some of the best in their respective genres.

Perhaps, the best known vocal group from Birmingham was The Temptations. Before The Temptations became one of Motown's greatest singing groups they started out as a trio from the Magic City called The Cavaliers. They were led by childhood friends Eddie Kendrick and Paul Williams who grew up in the Birmingham neighborhood of Ensley.

Today, The Temptations are world renowned and considered ambassadors of soul. During their career the group has sold 16 million LPs and scored 14 number one R&B singles, including `My Girl' and `Ain't Too Proud to Beg'. They received three Grammys and were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Members of The Blind Boys of Alabama also had deep roots in the City of Birmingham. This talented group is a 5-time Grammy award-winning gospel group who first sang together in 1939. In the seven decades since the Blind Boys of Alabama first performed, America has changed tremendously--witnessing everything from a world war to the civil rights movement. But through it all, the Blind Boys' music has not only endured, but thrived, helping both to define the sound of the American south and to push it forward through the 20th century and well on into the 21st century.

The Blind Boys of Alabama first sang together in the school chorus at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in Talladega, Alabama. The group was originally called the ``Happyland Jubilee Singers'' and its founding members were Clarence Fountain, Jimmy Carter, George Scott, Velma Bozman Traylor, Johnny Fields, Olice Thomas, and the only sighted member, J. T. Hutton.

The Blind Boys first rose to fame in the segregated south, releasing their debut single, ``I Can See Everybody's Mother But Mine,'' in 1948. Seventy years later the group continues to entertain crowds around the globe.

Many do not know that great jazz musician Lionel Hampton also had his early beginnings in Birmingham, Alabama. Shortly after his birth in 1908 in Louisville, Kentucky, he and his mother moved to her hometown in Birmingham, AL.

Lionel Hampton was a musical genius who mastered so many instruments and roles. He was a jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Lionel Hampton's rich mastery of the vibraphone made him one of the leading figures of the swing era. He was an extremely important figure in American music, not only as an entertainer and an improvising musician in jazz, but also because his band helped usher in rock 'n' roll.

He performed on piano and drums and was one of the first musicians to play the vibraphone in jazz. He also played on groundbreaking recordings with Louis Armstrong, Benny Carter and Benny Goodman in the 1920's and 30's.

The exceptional talent of Lionel Hampton, the Blind Boys of Alabama and the Temptations has made the City of Birmingham proud. While these musical giants will be honored during Magic City Classic, the contributions of other Birmingham notables will also be celebrated by the City during the three-year campaign leading up to Alabama's 200 anniversary of statehood. Future Birmingham honorees will include: Dr. James Andrews, Dr. Richard Arrington, Jr., Charles Barkley, William Bell, Sr., Bobby Bowden, Courtney Cox, Dr. Larry DeLucas, Fannie Flagg, Dr. Herschell Lee Hamilton, Emmylou Harris, Bo Jackson, Carl Lewis, Rebecca Luker, Dr. Charles McCallum, Patty McDonald, Dr. Michael Saag, David Sea, Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, Dr. Selwyn Vickers, Dr. Michael McCracken and Odessa Woolfolk. Special recognition to the illustrious Dr. Henry Panion III composer and professor of music at University of Alabama at Birmingham for his outstanding efforts in arranging, directing and performing the tributes to Birmingham's musical giants during the Magic City Classic weekend.

Alabama's bicentennial celebration offers citizens and visitors of all ages the chance to share and explore our state's history as we share our colorful past and imagine a more progressive future.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognition of ``Alabama 200''-- the three-year bicentennial campaign--and the very special role the people of Birmingham played in shaping this state and our nation. May the State of Alabama, the City of Birmingham and their rich traditions continue to grow and prosper for many more years to come.

Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to recognize Medical Advocacy and Outreach (MAO) for 30 years of dedicated service to the rural and underserved communities of Alabama. MAO, formerly known as Medical AIDS Outreach and Montgomery AIDS Outreach, is a private, non-profit, Rural Health and Wellness Organization and Community Based AIDS Service Organization in Montgomery, Alabama. It was founded in 1987 by a group of volunteers who were both directly and indirectly affected by HIV/AIDS.

In 1994, after being awarded Ryan White Care Act Part C funds, MAO transitioned from a volunteer education and service organization to a full-time, health care facility. Because of the hard work of many working together on the local, state and federal level over the years, MAO now operates the largest HIV-specific health care facility by geographic area within the state of Alabama, the Copeland Care Clinic. I am inspired by the small group of volunteers, many who are still involved and supportive today, who have been responsible for the growth of this organization over the past 30 years. Today, MAO provides education services to members of the community and medical and social services to those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, and Diabetes. MAO and the Copeland Clinic currently provide services to over 1600 patients who live in Montgomery and 28 surrounding counties in Southeast Alabama.

In addition, MAO provides an array of comprehensive services and care for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, including: medication assistance, pharmacist consultations, housing services, an on-site food pantry, mental health counseling/case management, patient education, prevention education, free HIV and Hepatitis C testing, PrEP and interpretation services for Spanish-speaking individuals and the hearing impaired. Through their Telehealth Resource Center, they assist other providers with the integration of telemedicine technology into patient-centered environments in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, New York, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

In addition to providing direct health care services, MAO educates the public about HIV/AIDS and related illnesses and how to prevent transmission of infection. To this end, the organization has made significant progress in educating the public on the reality that a person living with HIV who has an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the virus to their partners. This is why the staff at MAO also works so hard to ensure that individuals living with HIV receive regular treatment. As a matter of fact, MAO has a new initiative called ``Zero by 2020.'' The targeted goal is to have no new HIV diagnoses in Lowndes County, Alabama in the year 2020. I truly believe this can be done if we support organizations like MAO that provide free testing and educate citizens on the importance of getting regular health screenings.

MAO has two full service health and wellness clinics in Montgomery and Dothan where specialty care and related primary and dental care is provided to individuals living with HIV, Hepatitis C, and Diabetes. In addition to these full service facilities, MAO operates 10 rural telemedicine sites throughout Alabama in the following locations: Marengo County; Lowndes County; Dallas County; Perry County; Barbour County; Escambia County; Conecuh County; Covington County, Henry County; and Pike County. As the Member of Congress that represents the Black Belt, I am honored to be able to work with

MAO and other partners in their work to provide health care services to rural populations through telemedicine.

The services that MAO provides have grown to include a licensed professional counselor, mental health counselling and assessments, including for substance abuse and addiction, social services, and maternal and infant services. MAO collaborates with three area substance abuse treatment centers to provide prevention education to recovering addicts. MAO also houses the Alabama AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC), a continuing education program serving healthcare providers and professionals statewide.

The board, staff, and community partners with MAO work every day to fulfill their vision, which is to eradicate HIV/AIDS and other diseases that impact our most vulnerable neighbors. The progress this organization has made in 30 years demonstrates what can be accomplished when dedicated and committed individuals work together for substantive change. I am proud to be the Member of Congress that represents MAO. The reality is that all individuals living with HIV/AIDS and related illnesses deserve to live a healthy life filled with dignity and respect. Thanks to MAO, countless lives have been touched and saved by their work.