Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on December 12, 2025, I was unable to be present during Roll Call No. 334. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 334.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5346, the Fair and Accountable IRS Reviews Act.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Jason Smith for putting this bill on the floor, and I thank the gentleman for always remembering that it is better to do things in a bipartisan way.

This bill clarifies procedures under section 6751 of the Internal Revenue Code and fixes an ongoing controversy regarding tax penalties and IRS supervisory approvals.

The IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 added section 6751 to the Internal Revenue Code, which says that certain tax penalties shall not be assessed unless the initial determination of the assessment is personally approved, in writing, by the immediate supervisor of the employee making the determination, or a higher-level official.

This provision, in its current form, does not define when supervisory approval must be obtained or who is considered an immediate supervisor. The lack of definition has led to conflicting decisions in the court regarding the time of approvals and among whom at the IRS can make such approvals.

Due to this widespread confusion, the National Taxpayer Advocate recommended that Congress enact legislation to fix this provision. Therefore, this bill clarifies that an IRS employee must obtain supervisory approval in writing before any written communication is sent to a taxpayer about certain proposed penalties. It also clarifies that an IRS employee's immediate supervisor is a person to whom the employee reports.

In addition to providing clarity, this bill also raises $117 million over the next 10 years. This bill passed the Committee on Ways and Means with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this very important clarification bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purposes of closing.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5346 is a commonsense bill that will help taxpayers and the courts. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill because not only is it common sense, but it will allow for more efficiency in our IRS code. I think it is really important that both sides of the aisle, Democrats and Republicans, support such an efficient and commonsense bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for bringing this bill to the floor.

I rise in support of H.R. 5349, the Tax Court Improvement Act, which passed the Committee on Ways and Means with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my cosponsor and colleague, Mr. Moran of Texas, for his leadership and for working with me on this important legislation. I also thank the gentleman from Texas for the smoked turkey he sent to several members of our committee.

The Tax Court has a very important impact on everyday Americans. It provides individuals and businesses with an opportunity to be heard in court to challenge the Internal Revenue Service before paying a disputed tax. Our committee is always looking for ways to make the Tax Court more efficient and fairer for the taxpayer, and that is why we are here today.

The Tax Court Improvement Act will strengthen Tax Court procedures and practices by making four commonsense reforms. The act will accelerate the collection of documents, expand the types of cases assigned to special trial judges, hold Tax Court judges to the same recusal standards as other Federal judges, and allow the deadline for petitions to be extended in certain circumstances.

These improvements to the Tax Court will have a tangible impact on thousands of taxpayers, and it will raise $6 million over the next 10 years.

Given the importance of the Tax Court, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, in support of H.R. 5349, the Tax Court Improvement Act, is the fact that we want more commonsense, bipartisan efforts to modernize our Tax Court system.

At its heart, this bill strengthens taxpayer rights and removes unnecessary procedural roadblocks. Specifically, it authorizes the Tax Court to issue subpoenas before hearings. That means third parties can be compelled to produce relevant documents, electronic records, and other evidence early, facilitating settlement, reducing the need for protracted litigation, and helping to resolve disputes sooner rather than later.

This bill also expands the role of special trial court judges, allowing them to hear additional cases and act when there are issues such as contempt, thereby helping to clear backlogs and improving the court's overall input.

It holds Tax Court judges and special trial judges to the same ethical and disqualification standards as other Federal judges, ensuring transparency and integrity in every case.

This bill also clarifies that the Tax Court has the jurisdiction to grant equitable tolling in deficiency cases. In other words, the court can expand and extend deadlines when timely filings were impossible and impractical to make.

These reforms are not radical. They are commonsense improvements designed to deliver timely justice, lower court costs, and greater access for everyday Americans, small businesses, and those who currently face intimidating and burdensome procedures.

In a system where there are high stakes for individuals, families, and entrepreneurs, there is nothing uncommon or unreasonable about expecting a fair shot, swift resolution, and procedures that reflect modern realities. That is exactly what H.R. 5349 delivers.

Passing this legislation is a statement that we believe in a tax system where accountability, transparency, and due process matter, not just for the wealthy or well-connected, but for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 5349 and deliver on commonsense Tax Court reform.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the historic arrest of Rosa Parks, which took place in Montgomery, Alabama, exactly 70 years ago today.

Rosa Parks' legacy is one of remarkable bravery and moral fortitude. By refusing to give up her seat on the segregated bus, she took a stand for the values that this Nation holds dear. Her quiet and dignified courage set the stage for the historic Montgomery bus boycott and galvanized a movement that changed our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to lead legislation to designate December 1 as a national Federal holiday, commemorating her historic arrest. This bill is critical, given the attacks by the Trump administration on our history.

In times like these, it is especially important for us to tell our stories and to recognize the contributions of amazing African-American leaders like Rosa Parks. Her legacy is proud Alabama history and proud American history, and it should always be that way.

As Alabama's first Black Congresswoman, I know that I stand on the shoulders of amazing freedom fighters like Rosa Parks, who are unafraid to challenge the status quo.

Mr. Speaker, I can think of no one more befitting to honor with a new Federal holiday than Rosa Parks, and I ask my colleagues to join me.

Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 305, I voted Nay, but I intended to vote Yea.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in observance of today, November 20, as World Pancreatic Cancer Day.

It is a time to shine light on the devastating impact of this disease and dedicate ourselves to improving prevention, early detection, and treatment.

Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and is on track to becoming the second by 2030. Over 67,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with pancreatic cancer.

Like so many Americans, I know all too well the terrible impact of this disease. In 2021, I lost my dear mother, Nancy Gardner Sewell, to pancreatic cancer.

By the time we caught it, the cancer had already spread. She passed away just 8 weeks after her diagnosis. In an effort to turn my pain into purpose, I have committed myself to doing everything I can to prevent other families from enduring such a painful loss.

Along with my friend Congressman Jodey Arrington, I am proud to be leading H.R. 842. In the 118th Congress, Congressman Arrington introduced our bill and surprised me by renaming it after my mother, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Act.

Our bill would create a pathway for Medicare to cover multiple cancer early detection tests. Medicare will cover that by making sure that once it is approved by the FDA, it immediately becomes available to Medicare patients. This is so important because the promise of screening for more than 40 cancers lies with a simple blood test.

If passed, it will give our seniors their best shot at catching cancer early and treating it before it spreads. Just 2 months ago, our bill passed unanimously out of the House Ways and Means Committee. It enjoys overwhelmingly bipartisan support with 332 House cosponsors and 67 Senate cosponsors.

Later today, I look forward to convening lawmakers, researchers, advocates, and families for a roundtable on the latest developments in prevention, early detection, and treatment. I thank the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the American Cancer Society, and all of the more than 500 stakeholders for all of their efforts. I am so grateful for the tireless work of our cancer advocates. Without them, this bill would not enjoy such broad bipartisan support.

As we wear purple today in honor of World Pancreatic Cancer Day, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 842, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Multi-Cancer Early Detection Act.

Mr. Speaker, let's get this bill across the finish line and pave the way for the world without pancreatic cancer.

National Rural Health Day

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize today as National Rural Health Day.

As the daughter of Alabama's rural Black Belt, I know firsthand the challenges that our rural communities face when it comes to accessing quality, affordable healthcare.

For too many patients in rural America, getting seen by a doctor requires driving miles to the nearest hospital or health center. Broken payment systems and workforce challenges have put an enormous strain on our healthcare system.

In Congress, I am proud to be leading legislation that will tackle these challenges. Our Graduate Medical Education bill will add thousands of residency slots, creating a pipeline of qualified health professionals to serve patients in rural America.

Our Save America's Rural Hospitals Act takes important steps to ensure that rural hospitals are fairly reimbursed for their services. The Home Health Stabilization Act will allow more seniors to receive the care that they need in the comfort of their own homes.

I am also working hard to expand access to telehealth services, mental health, and substance use programs, and support our rural ambulance providers. It is so important that our rural ambulance providers know the importance that they have in rural America.

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to healthcare, our rural communities are on life support. Republicans' so-called big, beautiful bill makes the largest cut to healthcare in American history. Despite the dysfunction in Washington, we in Alabama are fortunate to have amazing partners standing in the gap.

Just last month, I was thrilled to attend the groundbreaking of the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences in Demopolis, Alabama. This new state-

supported residential high school is located in the heart of Alabama's Black Belt, where it will cultivate the next generation of healthcare professionals.

I believe that access to quality, affordable healthcare should be a right for all Americans and not just for the few. As we observe National Rural Health Day, let us recommit ourselves to ensuring that every American, regardless of their ZIP Code, gets the care that they need and that they deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I join in honoring the incredible legacy of Alabama's own Tuskegee Airmen, and paying my respects to Lieutenant Colonel George Hardy who was among the last of the original Tuskegee Airmen before he passed away in September. We owe him an enormous debt of gratitude that we will never fully repay.

The legacy of the Tuskegee Airman is one of extraordinary courage and sacrifice that must never be forgotten or erased. In 1941, the United States Army launched what it called ``an experiment''--the segregated 99th Fighter Squadron. It was decided that the squadron would train at an airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama, and thus, the Tuskegee Airmen were born. More than 16,000 brave men and women participated in the ``Tuskegee Experience'' between 1941 and 1949, including 992 pilots who flew with distinction during World War II.

Despite enduring the cruel injustice of segregation here at home, the aviators and support personnel persevered. They escorted bombers with unmatched skill, earned the respect of their peers, helped the Allied Forces defeat the Nazis, and paved the way for the desegregation of our military.

The Tuskegee Airmen embody the very definition of American patriotism. They bravely fought and died for our freedoms before this nation even granted them the full benefits of citizenship. That is the depth of love of country that the Tuskegee Airmen so honorably displayed.

Their story is not just Black history; it is American history. It is a story of excellence despite incredible odds, of patriotism in the face of discrimination, and of service without reservation. At this perilous time in our Nation's history, it has never been more important to keep their legacy alive. Earlier this year, on orders from President Trump, the Air Force removed references to the Tuskegee Airmen from its training curriculum. According to this administration, the heroism of the Tuskegee Airmen is nothing more than ``DEI.'' Little did President Trump know, Alabamians don't back down from a fight. When the news broke of their removal, Congressman Figures and I joined a chorus of Alabamians from every corner of our state, demanding they be reinstated. And thanks to our collective calls, they were.

So today we honor the Tuskegee Airmen--and not only as heroes of war. We honor them as enduring symbols of our ongoing struggle for equality and justice.

Let us recommit ourselves to that legacy. Let us ensure that their story is always taught in our schools, training programs, and public institutions. Let us ensure that every recruit, every citizen, and every generation knows who they were and why they matter.

May their courage continue to inspire us, and may we always honor their service--not just in memory, but in education, in policy, and in our national conscience.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding.

Just like the rest of America, we in Alabama are facing a health crisis caused by the Republican Party. Thanks to President Trump and Republicans in Congress, more than 58,000 of my constituents in Alabama's Seventh Congressional District will see their health insurance premiums skyrocket next year.

One of my constituents is a 63-year-old gentleman from Wilcox County, Alabama, in the rural part of my district. This gentleman works for the Wilcox County Water and Sewer District. Just like his coworkers, he receives health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

Currently, his premiums cost $188.29 per month. After receiving his rate letter last month, he learned that his monthly premium would increase by 700 percent to more than $1,500.

That is right, thanks to President Trump and Republicans in Congress, this gentleman will need to pay $1,300 more per month to keep the same healthcare plan.

Mr. Speaker, this is simply outrageous. The people I represent cannot afford these ridiculous Republican price hikes.

Throughout the government shutdown, and well before, Democrats have been sounding the alarm. We have been demanding that Republicans work with us to lower the cost of healthcare and address the crisis that they have caused.

What did they do instead? They shut down the government and held food assistance hostage from the most vulnerable Americans.

Make no mistake, the consequences of inaction will be dire. If Republicans

continue down this road, millions of Americans will be forced to go without healthcare insurance, one unexpected ER visit away from bankruptcy.

Those who cannot pay with their wallets will pay with their lives.

Mr. Speaker, there is still time to act. We must extend the healthcare tax credits, and we must do so now.

I thank my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus for this Special Order hour where we can tell the stories of our constituents.

This gentleman in Wilcox County, Alabama, who pays $188 today will have to pay $1,500 next year. It is simply unacceptable, and we must do something about it.

I am grateful to my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus for always standing up for the most vulnerable in our community, and I thank this gentleman from Wilcox County for sharing his rate letter, for showing us that, in fact, a 700 percent increase is simply unacceptable. It is outrageous. He will have to choose between affording healthcare insurance and simply affording his rent. It is unacceptable.

We in the Congressional Black Caucus, we in the Democratic Caucus, will continue to fight for the Affordable Care Act tax credits to be extended.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate an extraordinary educator from my hometown of Selma, Alabama, Ms. Veronica Pitts, of Selma High School, for being named the National Civics Teacher of the Year by the Bill of Rights Institute.

Each year, only one teacher in the Nation is selected to receive this prestigious honor, and I am thrilled that, this year, the teacher hails from Alabama's Seventh Congressional District.

Ms. Pitts exemplifies the very best of what it means to be an educator and a public servant. With a deep passion for education and tireless commitment to her students, she has dedicated her career to teaching not just government and economics but the importance of civic engagement and community leadership.

Through her engaging lessons, Ms. Pitts has helped her students understand that democracy is not a spectator sport. It requires informed, empowered, and active participants. Her classroom is a place where students don't just learn about the government. They learn about their role in shaping it.

As the daughter of two lifelong educators who worked at Selma High School for over 36 years, I know firsthand the transformational power of good education, especially good education in Selma. I have seen what our students can do and achieve with the help of amazing teachers and wonderful role models.

Teachers like Ms. Pitts do more than prepare young people for tests. They

prepare them for life. They nurture curiosity, instill core values, and light the spark of leadership that will carry students far beyond the school walls.

Located less than 2 miles up the road from the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge, it is only befitting that from Selma High School would emerge a teacher who is building the next generation of civic leaders, activists, and change agents.

After all, it was the people of Alabama's Seventh Congressional District that brought us the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These were ordinary Americans who dared to make this Nation live up to its highest ideals of equality and justice for all.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Alabama's Seventh Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Veronica Pitts. We are all so proud of her, and we are grateful for the work that she does each and every day to create opportunities for our students to thrive.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome to our Nation's Capitol patient advocates from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network for their annual fly-in.

This week, 700 advocates representing every State and all 435 congressional delegations and districts will be raising awareness of the urgent need for policies that improve cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and patient support. It is truly an honor to have these advocates with us this week sharing their stories of resilience, loss, determination, and hope.

Like so many of these advocates, I know firsthand the impact cancer can have on our families. On June 10, 2021, I lost my beloved mother, Nancy Gardner Sewell, to pancreatic cancer. Like so many patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, my mother's cancer was not detected until it was stage IV, and therefore, was not treatable.

Tragically, the cancer took her life 8 short weeks after her diagnosis. It was a shock to our entire family, the lingering effects of which I feel every day.

In an effort to turn my pain into passion, I made a commitment to do all that I could to prevent other families from experiencing such a painful loss. That is why I am proud to be leading legislation alongside my Republican colleague, Congressman Jodey Arrington from Texas, to expand access to early detection cancer screenings.

Our bill, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, would create a pathway for Medicare to cover emerging blood tests, once FDA approved, which holds the promise of screening for up to 40 types of cancers with a single blood draw.

When it comes to cancer, we know that early detection is our best protection, and that is exactly what this bill will do. It is about ensuring that those who are most at risk can catch cancer early and stop it before it spreads.

Thanks to the advocacy of the American Cancer Society and their partners, our bill has bipartisan support. Mr. Speaker, 295 House Members and 62 Senators have cosponsored it.

Last Congress, Jodey surprised me by renaming the legislation in honor of my late mother, Nancy Gardner Sewell, of Selma, Alabama, who passed away in 2021 from pancreatic cancer.

Who was she?

My mom was a devout Christian who lived a life of faith, an exemplary educator, and a library media specialist. She served in the Selma public school system for 36 years where she shaped minds and uplifted children. As a librarian, she was a strong advocate for reading, initiating the Reading is Fundamental, RIF, program in 1973, delivering books to children throughout Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. It is a program that still serves children in Selma and Dallas County and Alabama's rural Black Belt today.

Nancy Sewell was a trailblazing civic leader. She became the first African-American woman elected to Selma's city council and served as an inspirational role model for women in politics.

Her favorite saying was: Bloom where you are planted.

We can make a difference right where we are, and she made a big difference in the lives of so many people whom she touched.

Again, I want to thank the American Cancer Society and their more than 700 supporters for honoring my mother on this day of advocacy, her birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join us in this important effort. Let's pass H.R. 842, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi- Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act and pave the way for a world without cancer.

Mr. Speaker, I first really just thank the Congressional Black Caucus for commemorating this 62nd anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church with this Special Order hour.

Mr. Speaker, I indeed rise with my colleagues to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and to honor the legacy of the four precious little girls killed in that attack.

Sixty-two years ago today, parishioners of the 16th Street Baptist Church gathered within its sacred walls ahead of its 11 a.m. service. It was youth day that day, that day 62 years ago. It was youth day, so the youth were in charge of that service.

There were lots of little girls and little boys running around the church. At approximately 10:23 a.m., while the four little girls were getting dressed in the church basement restroom, 19 sticks of dynamite placed by the KKK exploded.

As the walls of the church caved in, more than 100 parishioners rushed for safety. While most of them escaped unharmed, under the debris lay five little girls.

Today, we must remember all five, four were killed that day and one is still alive today.

Today, we remember the name of Addie Mae Collins, of Denise McNair, of Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Morris Wesley. We also remember the name of Sarah Collins, who was the younger sister of Addie Mae Collins.

In response to the attack, hundreds of African Americans took to the street to demand justice, only to be met with more violence at the hands of law enforcement. Within hours of the bombing, two more children lost their lives in Birmingham, Alabama: Johnny Robinson and Virgil Ware were killed in clashes with the police.

Dr. King described the bombing as one of the most vicious crimes ever perpetrated against humanity. Yet, despite the horrific nature of the attack, it took more than 34 years for the perpetrators to be faced with justice. In fact, it was only 34 years later that they really all were brought to justice.

Make no mistake, the four little girls did not die in vain, as my colleague from Alabama, Shomari Figures, so eloquently said. They didn't die in vain. Their murder focused the eyes of the Nation on the racial terror being waged against African Americans in the Jim Crow South, and their legacy galvanized the civil rights movement, giving voice to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

It was because of their death that the Nation in horror saw four little girls, who were simply going to church, killed. It was senseless violence by the KKK. We had a Birmingham campaign because of that, a crusade of children who marched and protested in Kelly Ingram Park.

It was because of their efforts and the efforts of so many, the sacrifices of so many, it is never lost on Shomari or myself that we get to walk the Halls of Congress because four little Black girls cannot. Four little Black girls cannot.

Congresswoman McClellan, we are blessed to be able to represent our home districts, but we know that we are not the first who deserve to be here in Congress. No, we are the lucky ones who stand on the shoulders of those who were murdered, who marched, who bled, who prayed for the opportunity of African Americans to have an equal voice in this society.

The sacred right to vote is just as sacred today as it was then. I think all of us in this Chamber, Republicans and Democrats alike, respect the late, great Congressman John Lewis, who had the audacity to believe that he could march across a bridge unfettered by the viciousness of the State troopers.

When he was met with that viciousness, it was John, with a backpack on his shoulder--that image is seared in my mind. I have the great honor of being a daughter of Selma, growing up in Selma. You can't grow up in Selma, Alabama, without really understanding its place in American history.

I often tell my constituents that we are custodians of America's history. What happened on that bridge, the blood that was shed for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, is commemorated year after year after year. The first Sunday in the month of March is Bloody Sunday, a sacred day that for so many years John Lewis would bring Republicans and Democrats, a bipartisan group, to walk across that bridge. We didn't just come to Selma. He would take us first to Birmingham where we would sit in the 16th Street Baptist Church, and we would see the beautiful stained glass that was donated by the people of Wales to the church.

I have heard Pastor Price, who is the current pastor of the 16th Street Baptist Church, regale that the sermon that day 62 years ago, the sermon that day was: A love that forgives. That was the title of the sermon: A love that forgives. Now, we know that political violence has no place in this society, but how ironic that the pastor was preaching a sermon about forgiveness.

As I reflect on our painful past, I am reminded that every gain in the battle for civil rights and voting rights has come at a high cost, paid for by the sacrifices of others.

As a direct beneficiary of the legacy of the four little girls, I am honored that my very first piece of legislation that I passed in Congress bestowed

upon the four little girls a Congressional Gold Medal on the 50th anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church.

Oh, it was a grand day. I was able to watch as President Barack Obama signed that bill into law in the Oval Office. Standing to my right was none other than the mother of Denise McNair and the sister of Denise McNair. Standing to my left was a cousin of Carole Robertson. Standing right beside me was Eric Holder, the Attorney General, and his wife, Sharon Malone, a distinguished doctor whose sister, Vivian Malone, was the very first African American to integrate University of Alabama. Also there was the Surgeon General, another very proud native of Alabama. The Surgeon General at the time was Regina Benjamin.

It was a proud day to be an Alabamian. It was a proud day to be an African American. It was a proud day to be an American. It took us 50 years to acknowledge the four little girls on this House floor.

I have to say that perhaps one of the most poignant memories that I have not just of that day--and, yes, Pastor Price was there as well--it was really the opportunity to bestow a Congressional Gold Medal to Sarah Collins, and lots of our colleagues came with us that day, came with me, flew to Birmingham months later to actually bestow the Congressional Gold Medal to Sarah Collins.

History is riddled with the bodies and blood of those who sacrificed for this country to live up to its creed, the creed of this country to honor its principles of justice and equality. At a time when some would seek to whitewash our history and roll back our progress, it has never been more important for us to remember, to ensure that the memory of the four little girls lives on. Their loss paved the way for the freedoms and opportunities that we enjoy today, and their legacy reminds us that the price of freedom is not free. It has been paid for by the sacrifices of others.

I thank my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus for hosting tonight's Special Order hour, and I ask both sides of the aisle to join us in honoring the memory of Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley, and the life of Sarah Collins.

I look forward to having a colloquy with my colleagues about what this really means to all of us. I have to say that as the Member of Congress who represents Birmingham, Alabama, and Selma and Tuscaloosa, I was never more proud than to remember the legacy, the amazing legacy that is Alabama's Seventh Congressional District.

While I am honored to represent the constituents of today, I carry with me and know that the legacy of this district is something that must be advanced. It needs to be protected. It needs to be known. It needs to be advanced.

I never thought that 60 years after John Lewis was bludgeoned on a bridge, or 62 years after four little girls were killed in the bombing--assassinated in the bombing--of the 16th Street Baptist Church, that the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act would be in jeopardy.

The Shelby v. Holder decision struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. As we speak, the Supreme Court is considering striking down or nullifying section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

It is on our collective watch that we say no, that we must say hell no, that this body must act. This body can come up with a modern-day formula to determine voter discrimination, such that we can put life back into section 4, which allowed us to say that those States that had a history of voting discrimination must pre-clear every voting law.

That provision had no teeth because they struck down the formula. States across this Nation started voter suppression laws, voting on voter suppression laws that didn't have any remedy other than after the fact. We could only sue after the fact.

In my portion tonight, I join my colleagues for a colloquy by just saying that we who are beneficiaries of this important legacy have a very special role to play. Ours is to legislate, but ours is also to motivate and mobilize our constituents and this Nation, to mobilize and realize that the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act are similar pieces of legislation that all Americans should acknowledge as the reason why the arc is bending toward justice, as Martin Luther King would say. We know that the moral arc doesn't bend by itself. It bends at the will, at the sacrifice, at the demands of the people.

As I close, I want us not only to remember their names but remember their sacrifice, and let's pay it forward. I think we who are beneficiaries must pay it forward. I don't know about you, but just looking at their faces gives me a pep in my step.

We may be living through very troubling times, but we do so because others sacrificed. It was because of their sacrifice that we get to enjoy the freedoms we do.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Congressional Black Caucus for acknowledging today as the 62nd anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of a civil rights icon and a beloved Birmingham pastor, Bishop Calvin Woods, Sr., who passed away on August 16, 2025, at the age of 91.

Bishop Woods was a cherished member of the Birmingham community whose moral leadership served as a guiding light during the civil rights movement and beyond.

Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Bishop Woods attended Parker High School before earning his bachelor's degree from Miles College. He went on to complete several more degrees at the Universal Baptist Institute and Union Baptist Seminary, as well as the School of Truth.

In 1956, Bishop Woods began his nearly six decades of involvement in the civil rights movement, cofounding the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights alongside his brother, Reverend Abraham Woods, and the Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth.

Bishop Woods worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King and participated in numerous civil rights demonstrations, including the Birmingham campaign and the 1963 March on Washington. Following the shooting of five African-American protesters at a Birmingham supermarket, Bishop Woods planned public protests and later filed a lawsuit challenging the unjust suspension of schoolchildren for demonstrating against segregation.

Despite being beaten, arrested, fined, and imprisoned, Bishop Woods was never afraid to stand up for what he believed was right. As a result of his fearless advocacy, he was appointed by Dr. King as a SCLC City Convener for the Birmingham Ministers Leadership Conference.

Bishop Woods was a devoted man of God whose love for his family and his community was unmatched. He spent more than three decades as the pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Birmingham, and held numerous leadership roles in the community.

He served as a board member of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and a member of the National Baptist Convention Board of Directors.

In 2006, Bishop Woods was named president of the Birmingham SCLC, and one year later, he became president of the New Era Baptist State Convention.

Madam Speaker, on a personal note, I am forever grateful for the sacrifices that Bishop Woods made in the name of equality and justice for all. He stands as a testament to the power of ordinary Americans to achieve extraordinary social change. I know that I get to walk the Halls of Congress as Alabama's first Black Congresswoman because of his courageous efforts.

The city of Birmingham, the State of Alabama, and our entire Nation are indebted to him for his tireless fight to end segregation.

On behalf of Alabama's Seventh Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of Bishop Calvin Woods, Sr.

Madam Speaker, may he rest in peace and may his legacy live on in the lives that he touched and in the change that he sparked.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of a Civil Rights icon and community leader, Bishop Calvin W. Woods, Sr., who passed away on August 16, 2025, at the age of 91.

A native of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, Bishop Woods was born on September 13, 1933, in Birmingham, Alabama, to the late Maggie Rosa Lee Wallace Woods and Abraham Lincoln Woods, Sr.

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

In 1956, Bishop Woods joined his brother Reverend Abraham L. Woods, Jr., and Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth to co-found the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR). Through this work, Bishop Woods began the journey of what would become six decades of courageous leadership throughout the Civil Rights Movement. Working closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and supporting the work of Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth, Bishop Woods challenged segregation directly, participating in numerous demonstrations, including the Birmingham Campaign and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. Though his participation in the Movement resulted in him being beaten, arrested, and fired from his job, he continued to fight for justice and equality for all. He planned strategies for public protests following the shooting of five African Americans who had been protesting at a supermarket during the 1960s and filed a lawsuit on behalf of the youth suspended from school during the demonstration to ensure that they could be reinstated.

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

In addition to his work as a Civil Rights leader, Bishop Woods played a vital role in the Birmingham community through his various community affiliations and as the pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, where he led the congregation for more than three decades. Throughout his life, Bishop Woods served in many leadership capacities, including as the Discipline & Administration and Evening Supervisor for Community Ed School at Parker High School, a board member of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the President of the New Era Baptist State Convention of AL, the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Birmingham Easonian Baptist Bible College, and a member of the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc. Board of Directors.

Mr. Woods is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lucille Grayson Woods; his parents, Rev. Abraham Lincoln Woods, Sr. and Maggie Woods; his brothers, Rev. Abraham Lincoln Woods, Jr., Dr. Roy Woods, Sr., Franklin Delorna Woods, and Dr. Dwight Edward Woods; his sisters, Mary Ruby Woods Hutchinson, Melzer Woods Luke, and Lois Woods, his daughters, Linda Cal Woods Holt, and Shelia Vanessa Woods Minter; his son, Dr. Freedom Progress Woods, Sr., and his granddaughter, Tamecia LaShun Woods. He is survived by his children, Jeanette Marie Woods Smith, Judy Kay Woods, Dr. Calvin Wallace Woods, Jr., (Minister Constance), Carlton Wayne Woods, Sr., Rev. Byron Elliott Woods, Christopher Wyatt Woods, Minister Joyce Elaine Woods Lewis (Dr. Tommie), Minister Angela Gay Woods McClure (Dr. Micheal), Dr. Timothy Justice Woods, Sr., and Dr. Quintin Prescott Woods, Sr. (Tramella); his thirty-seven grandchildren, his sixty-eight great-grandchildren, his eleven great great-grandchildren; his two daughter-in laws, his two son-in laws, his thirty-three nieces and nephews, his sixty-one great nieces and nephews, and a host other ministers of the gospel, cousins, family, and dear friends.

On a personal note, the contributions that Bishop Woods made to ensure the equal rights of all Americans during the Civil Rights Movement were truly exemplary. I know that I get to represent my home district as Alabama's first Black Congresswoman because of his courageous efforts. To call him an icon of the Movement is an understatement. His unwavering commitment to improving the lives of black Alabamians had a profound effect on our community and will continue to be felt for generations to come. His life stands as a testament to the power of ordinary Americans to achieve extraordinary social change. His legacy will live on with every vote cast and in the many lives he impacted. May he rest in peace and power.

On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of Bishop Calvin W. Woods, Sr. for his contributions to generations of civil rights leaders and decades of exemplary service to our Nation in our fight for liberty, equality, and justice for all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Reginald Adams Berry, a devoted husband and father. A native of Washington, D.C., Reginald remained in his hometown, building a loving family and distinguished career as an architect.

Among his great accomplishments was his devotion to family--his wife, Sonceria Ann Berry, and daughter, Elizabeth Ruth Berry. A native of Birmingham, Alabama in my district, Ann got her start in the Senate as a staffer for U.S. Senator Howell Heflin in Alabama, rising through the ranks to serve as the first Black

woman Secretary of the U.S. Senate from 2021 to 2025. I know I speak for all of us in expressing our gratitude to the Berry Family for decades of service to their country and to their Congress. We will continue to keep Ann, Elizabeth, and their family in our prayers.

On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the extraordinary life of Reginald Berry.

Mr. Speaker, never give up. Never give in. Keep the faith and keep your eyes on the prize.

Those were the words of John Lewis as he crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge for the last time before his passing in 2020. If I close my eyes, I can hear him say it: Never give up. Never give in. And keep the faith.

His body was frail and stricken with cancer, but his mind was sharp. His charge to us was clear. No matter what challenges we face, we can never give up.

In these troubling times, I think of those words often. John would have a lot to say about what is going on these days: the attacks on our democracy, the erasing of our history, the efforts to make it harder for people to vote.

Old battles have indeed become new again. But if there is one thing that John has taught us, it is that we must press on.

Just imagine where we would be if John Lewis and those foot soldiers had given up on Bloody Sunday. They were beaten and bruised. They were gassed and whipped. They had every reason to throw up their hands and surrender, but they didn't. They got back up, they tried again, and they marched on until victory was won.

So as we navigate this dark chapter of our history, let us be guided by their persistence and inspired by their determination. Let us pledge that we will introduce in Congress after Congress after Congress the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act until victory is won.

We can be tired. We can be frustrated. We can be downright mad. But we can never give up.

From the boy from Troy to the girl from Selma, in remembrance of John Lewis, let's keep the faith and let's keep our eyes on the prize.