July 25, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1237 JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY PO- Over a thousand officers joined Officer IN TRIBUTE TO JENNY CONTOIS LICE OFFICER MELVIN Santiago’s family and friends to honor his life SANTIAGO and lay him to rest on July 18th, where he was posthumously promoted to detective and HON. JOE COURTNEY given the Jersey City Police Department HON. TED POE OF CONNECTICUT OF TEXAS Medal of Honor. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES In his short time on the squad, he quickly gained the respect of many. Friday, July 25, 2014 We remember his hard work and commit- Friday, July 25, 2014 Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, when dan- ment to family and community. Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today ger occurs, when disaster happens, when 911 I commend Detective Melvin Santiago for with deep gratitude to pay tribute to a col- is called, it is the first responders who heed his service to the people of New Jersey. league, a friend, and a trusted deputy, Jenny Our thoughts and prayer are with Jersey the emergencies. Contois, who retired last month after serving City Detective Melvin Santiago’s family, the While most of us flee danger, the men and seven and half years as my District Director in local peace officers, and the community of women who are the thin blue line head toward Connecticut’s Second District. danger. Jersey City. They are America’s finest. Peace officers stand between the law and Even more than a traditional District Director They are the peace officers. the lawless. for a Member of the House, I considered Officer Melvin Santiago was just 23 when Peace officers are the last strand of wire in Jenny to be a Co-Member of Congress. he was gunned down and assassinated for the fence between the fox and the chickens. Whenever I was called to Washington for leg- sport by a fugitive, an outlaw. Mr. Speaker, peace officers are a rare islative duty, I had unshakable confidence in Santiago was going about his duties as a breed. Jenny’s abilities to handle all challenges in Jersey City, New Jersey police officer re- Melvin Santiago was one of those individ- Connecticut. Jenny’s executive experience, sponding to a disturbance at a local drugstore. uals. honed over 15 years as First Selectwoman of When he arrived he was shot multiple times General George Patton said it quite appro- Colchester prepared her to lead my Con- before even exiting his patrol car. priately when talking about his young troops necticut office and to expand her area of re- The name of the cold blooded killer who killed in battle: While we mourn the loss of sponsibility from one town to 64 towns of the murdered rookie Jersey City police officer, these men. We should thank the Good Lord Second District. Melvin Santiago shall not be mentioned. that such men ever lived. Jenny combined a passionate commitment This cowardly murderer thought he would And that’s just the way it is. to public service with an unshakable deter- become famous by killing a cop. f mination to solve problems that lay before her. The gunman was lying in wait to murder a When it came to finding a loan for a struggling peace officer. HONORING THE DISTINGUISHED The criminal was killed by police. CAREER OF STEPHEN BERO AND small business, securing a rural development He has gone to meet his Maker. HIS OUTSTANDING IMPACT IN grant for a town in need, badgering a recal- I doubt the meeting will be pleasant. THE WARREN-NEWPORT COMMU- citrant federal agency to fulfill a previous obli- Officer Santiago wanted to fight crime and NITY gation, or begging and borrowing to get an protect the citizens in the toughest neighbor- Army Corps boat to dredge a coastal harbor, hoods. HON. BRADLEY S. SCHNEIDER Jenny’s tenacity was unparalleled and her success rate unmatched. He wanted to make a difference. OF ILLINOIS The west section of the city was where he IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES At no time did Jenny shine brighter than thought he could do that best. Friday, July 25, 2014 during a crisis. Whether in the aftermath of a This was not just a job for Officer Santiago; winter storm that left residential and commer- it was a goal he had worked toward. Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud cial power lines down or in the wake of a sum- He excelled in his entrance exam with a to rise today to honor Stephen Bero, an ex- mer storm that brought extensive flooding to score of 98. ceptional public servant who, for more than 20 our shores, Jenny rose to the challenge time This first responder wanted to be like his years, worked in library administration and for and time again. Immediately after a blizzard or Uncle Frank, a retired detective. the last nearly 10 served years as the Execu- tempest hit, Jenny would work by my side to Santiago looked up to his uncle and often tive Director of the Warren-Newport Public Li- rally fellow municipal leaders and emergency sought his advice. brary District (WNPLD) in Gurnee, IL. responders to expedite the assessment and Officer Santiago graduated from the police When Steve formally retires at the end of repairs. After the storms subsided, she worked academy in December, patrolling the area that July, he will complete what has been a truly painstakingly with families and businesses to he knew he could help turn around, when his remarkable career in service to his community. help them secure the recovery funds and as- life was stolen from him by a worthless crimi- During his tenure as Executive Director, Steve sistance they so desperately needed. nal. presided over the WNPLD during a period of Law enforcement officers are a special kind. remarkable growth and financial stability. She accomplished all of this with a winning They put their lives on the line every single Steve successfully shepherded an $8.7 million smile and a hearty laugh. By the time that her day to ensure the safety of their communities. expansion and renovation project, securing a seven and a half years as District Director had There aren’t many other professions where AA+ bond rating from Standard & Poor’s as concluded, Jenny in many ways had evolved a person willingly puts themselves at risk on a well as favorable financing options that made from the First Selectwoman of Colchester to daily basis in order to protect others. the project possible. the First Selectwoman of eastern Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, as a former prosecutor and In addition to his many noteworthy financial This weekend, Jenny’s many colleagues, criminal court judge in Texas for over 25 accomplishments, Steve fostered an incredibly friends, and family will celebrate her service to years, I have known a lot of men and women positive environment at the library that earned the Second District of Connecticut at a gath- who have worn the badge—the shield—or the the recognition and appreciation of his col- ering in her hometown. Jenny will spend her star over their heart. leagues and the surrounding community. duly earned retirement with her beloved hus- These are symbols of their willingness to Steve’s colleagues noted his successful lead- band Frank, her daughter Amy, and her latest put our safety above theirs. ership during the construction, along with his arrival, her grandson Jack. Unfortunately, I have known and attended decision to reinstate the Youth Services de- I will miss Jenny’s day-to-day counsel and funerals of first responders like Santiago who partment. gave their lives in an effort to make our com- Under Steve’s stewardship, WNPLD has be- friendship in the future, but I am heartened munities safer. come one of the most popular public libraries and grateful to remember her invaluable as- We as a society should never forget the true in all of Lake County. sistance in launching my new office almost sacrifice first responders and their families In a fitting conclusion to Steve’s tenure at eight years ago and achieving the success we make for our nation. WNLPD, the Illinois Library Association named had together. Officer Santiago went above and beyond to him the 2014 Librarian of the Year. The entire Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to make his hometown of Jersey City, the state Warren-Newport community is lucky to have join me in saluting one of eastern Connecti- of New Jersey, and his country a better place. enjoyed Steve Bero’s service. cut’s finest, Jenny Contois.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:11 Jul 26, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25JY8.012 E25JYPT1 jbell on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS E1238 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 25, 2014 ISRAEL HAS THE RIGHT TO PERSONAL EXPLANATION serve our country in the United States Army DEFEND ITSELF from 1953 to 1955. HON. EDWARD R. ROYCE In 1958, Dr. Harding met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who urged him to move to the South HON. LOU BARLETTA OF CALIFORNIA OF PENNSYLVANIA to join in the Civil Rights Movement. Once in IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Atlanta, Dr. Harding and his wife, Rosemarie, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Friday, July 25, 2014 founded the Mennonite House, an interracial Friday, July 25, 2014 service center and began engaging in a wide Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoid- Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, Hamas, which variety of social and political campaigns. Dr. ably detained and missed one vote on July 24. was designated as a terrorist organization by Harding worked closely with the Southern Had I been present, on rollcall No. 449, H.R. the United States under President Bill Clinton, Christian Leadership Conference, and the Stu- 3393, the Student and Family Tax Simplifica- has a history of using schools, hospitals, and dent Nonviolent Coordination Committee to tion Act, I would have voted ‘‘aye.’’ civilian areas as staging grounds and launch challenge segregation in the South. sites for their attacks against Israel. They have f As Dr. Martin Luther King’s speechwriter, Dr. Vincent Harding drafted the famous and also built a network of tunnels under those lo- HONORING MS. LUCY COFFEY, highly controversial speech, ‘‘Beyond Vietnam: cations to facilitate the movement of soldiers AMERICA’S OLDEST LIVING FE- A Time to Break Silence.’’ Dr. Vincent Harding and weapons for use against Israel. When MALE VETERAN Israel responds to these attacks by specifically was a strong opponent to the Vietnam War targeting the missile launchers, Hamas uses and, as Chair of the History and Sociology De- human shields—many times children—as HON. LAMAR SMITH partment at Atlanta’s Spelman College, Dr. propaganda tools. The civilized world should OF TEXAS Harding was concerned that students were not be horrified at such tactics by Hamas and con- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES aware of the situation in Vietnam. He worked demn them absolutely. to ensure that students and other Americans Friday, July 25, 2014 Just recently, I cosponsored a resolution were aware of the atrocities occurring during that reaffirms Israel’s right to defend itself, and Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today we the war in Vietnam. I would note that they have shown incredible honor America’s oldest living female veteran, Dr. Vincent Harding founded the Veterans of restraint in fighting back. They give ample Ms. Lucy Coffey of San Antonio, TX. Hope Project in 1997, which is a multifaceted warning prior to an attack, advising all inno- Ms. Coffey, who is 108 years old and lives educational initiative encompassing the topics cent parties to flee. In truth, if Israel were as in my Congressional district, is in Washington of religion, culture and participatory democ- indiscriminate as Hamas and used all the mili- today and tomorrow to visit the WWII Memo- racy. His work through Veterans of Hope em- tary might at their disposal, Gaza would be a rial, the Women’s Veterans Memorial and Ar- phasized the importance of nonviolence and a smoking wasteland within hours. That this has lington Cemetery. grass root approach to social change. not happened is testament to Israel’s care in Ms. Coffey served honorably in the Wom- After the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther targeting only areas that have been used as en’s Army Corps during WWII. Serving mainly King Jr. in 1968, Dr. Vincent Harding worked attack launch points. The United States must in the Pacific theater, she was awarded two with Coretta Scott King to establish the King speak with one voice on this issue and stand Bronze Stars for valor. After the war, she con- Center in Atlanta, serving as the Center’s first with our strong ally Israel. tinued serving her country, working at Kelly Air director. In addition, Dr. Vincent Harding wrote several books reflecting on the Civil Rights f Force Base in San Antonio for twenty years until retiring in the early seventies. Movement and Martin Luther King Jr., includ- HONORING JUDGE IVORY E. The United States is stronger today be- ing ‘‘Martin Luther King: The Inconvenient BRITTON cause of the sacrifices all our veterans have Hero’’ and ‘‘Hope and History: Why We Must made. And Ms. Coffey exemplifies what is Share the Story of the Movement.’’ Dr. Har- HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON best about our veterans and our great nation. ding was deeply passionate about public serv- OF MISSISSIPPI It is with great appreciation and admiration ice and impacted countless lives with his the- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that today we recognize and honor Ms. Lucy ology, activism and scholarly efforts. Dr. Har- Coffey. ding once wrote that ‘‘we are all a part of one Friday, July 25, 2014 another, and we are all part of the intention of Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speak- f the great creator spirit to continue being light er, I rise today to honor Judge Ivory Britton, a HONORING DR. VINCENT HARDING and life.’’ Justice Court Judge of District 2, who is a na- On a personal note, Dr. Harding was a loyal tive Jacksonian. friend for over 30 years. During the late Judge Britton was reared on Tougaloo HON. BARBARA LEE 1970’s, I worked on Capitol Hill for Congress- Street in the Virden Addition Community. OF CALIFORNIA man Ron Dellums while raising two sons as a Judge Britton attended Brinkley Elementary IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES single parent. My sons wanted to attend the School, which is now Walton Elementary Penn Relays in Philadelphia, but we did not Friday, July 25, 2014 School, and graduated from Brinkley High have a place to stay. A mutual friend called School. He attended: the University of Judicial Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise Vincent and Rosemarie to ask if we could stay Court, National Judicial College, Reno, NV, today to honor the extraordinary life of Dr. Vin- with them. With no hesitation, they said yes, National Judges Association, American cent Harding. Known throughout the country not knowing me and on short notice. I will al- Judges Association, and National Center for as a scholar, activist, father, friend and former ways remember that weekend in their beau- State Courts. speechwriter for Reverend Doctor Martin Lu- tiful, warm home and their delicious meals. As a Justice Court Judge, Britton works ther King Jr., Dr. Harding has left an indelible They treated us like family and our spirits con- hard to ensure fair and equal treatment for all mark on our national discourse. With his pass- nected. I did not see Vincent and Rosemarie litigants of his court. He has increased his ing on May 19, 2014, we look to the out- again until the late 1990’s when, as a Member knowledge of the judicial process to enable standing quality of his life’s work and the in- of Congress, I attended a retreat in Santa Bar- citizens to easily use the Justice Court Sys- spiring role he played in the Civil Rights Move- bara sponsored by the Faith and Politics Insti- tem. Judge Britton will continue to be fair and ment. tute. The Harding’s led this retreat, which re- accessible to all citizens and be knowledge- Born on July 25, 1931 in Harlem, New York, newed my spirit, challenged my intellect and able and obedient to the laws of The State of Dr. Vincent Harding began his education by warmed my heart. Mississippi. attending New York public schools, graduating Today, California’s 13th Congressional Dis- Judge Britton is married to Liza Britton and from Morris High School in 1948. After high trict salutes and honors an outstanding Civil they have three children: Perry, Dexter and school, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree Rights leader and social activist, Dr. Vincent Tabathia. He is a member of Cade Chapel M. in History from the City College of New York, Harding. His dedication and efforts have im- B. Church. and in the following year, he graduated from pacted so many lives throughout the nation. I Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me Columbia University, earning a Master’s de- join all of Vincent’s loved ones in celebrating in recognizing Judge Ivory E. Britton. gree in Journalism. Dr. Harding went on to his incredible life. He will be deeply missed.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:11 Jul 26, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25JY8.014 E25JYPT1 jbell on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS