E1442 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks August 3, 2012 1982, President Reagan said, ‘‘Mr. Weeks has This is what inspires us as we prepare for and professional careers to the people of Sac- exemplified the finest traditions of American the annual observance of Veterans Day this ramento. volunteerism by his unselfish service to his coming November, and it is what continues to f country. As director of the National Veterans motivate my native Birmingham to set the Day Celebration in Birmingham for the past highest standard for honoring those who have TRIBUTE TO YOUNG STAFF MEM- years, Raymond Weeks, a World War II vet- preserved the precious gift of freedom for all BERS FOR THEIR CONTRIBU- eran himself, has devoted his life to serving of us. TIONS ON BEHALF OF THE 37TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT others, his community, the American veteran, f and the Nation. He was the driving force be- hind the congressional action which in 1954 IN RECOGNITION OF THE 25TH AN- HON. LAURA RICHARDSON established this special holiday as a day to NIVERSARY OF THE NEIGHBOR OF CALIFORNIA honor all America’s veterans.’’ WORKS HOMEOWNERSHIP CEN- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TER SACRAMENTO REGION The tradition of respect and honor estab- Thursday, August 2, 2012 lished by National Veterans Day in Bir- mingham would be ably carried on by Ray- HON. DORIS O. MATSUI Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, each year mond Weeks’ successor, Colonel Bill Voigt. To OF CALIFORNIA about this time I rise to recognize the wonder- this pivotal position of community leadership, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ful young men and women who have contrib- uted a substantial amount of work to my of- Colonel Voigt brought his experience from the Thursday, August 2, 2012 Alabama Air National Guard and U.S. Air fice. Members of Congress know well, per- Force Reserves and a deep and abiding con- Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to haps better than most, how important it is to cern for our veterans. His dedication went recognize the NeighborWorks HomeOwner- have such exceptional young men and women above and beyond duty. New leadership has ship Center Sacramento Region and its em- working towards our nation’s future. been tasked to continue this tradition. ployees as they celebrate their 25th anniver- We know this because we see them and As we look toward the 65th anniversary of sary. NeighborWorks is a nonprofit organiza- benefit from their contributions every day. America’s first Veterans Day and to 2014, the tion committed to improving the Sacramento Many of them work for us in our offices as jun- 60th anniversary of the legal holiday, we can community by increasing opportunities for fam- ior staff members, congressional fellows or in- cast our vision. It is to continue to honor our ilies to purchase their own homes and pre- terns. They do amazing work for the constitu- veterans. serving homeownership. I ask all my col- ents we are privileged to represent, and are a We would do well by restoring emphasis on leagues to join me in honoring NeighborWorks vital part of every aspect of this establishment. General Eisenhower’s request of Raymond Sacramento Region for their important con- Although the United States has experienced Weeks in 1947 for Veterans Day to perpetuate tribution to the Sacramento community. some hard times in recent years, I simply world peace: ‘‘I wish you every success in Originally founded in 1987, NeighborWorks have to look to the eager and idealistic young your purpose of arousing all American citizens has grown tremendously and now serves the staff members and interns in my office to to the need for cooperating among ourselves entire Sacramento Region as well as parts of know the future of our country is bright and to the utmost to achieve the greatest of all California’s Central Valley. Lead by a com- our best days lay ahead. goals—assurance of enduring peace.’’ mitted board of directors and CEO Pam Can- These are the people who toil in obscurity, The history of Veterans Day is a lesson in ada, the devoted staff and partners of but who willingly and happily jump at every character education that can be used to in- NeighborWorks continually work alongside task they are given because they know they spire students to learn ‘‘living history’’ from our local residents to improve Sacramento’s are serving a great purpose. veterans. Alabama teaches character traits neighborhoods, and make the dream of home- Mr. Speaker, I believe there is no higher daily, including those illuminated by the history ownership a reality for all. For 25 years, calling than serving your country. That is why of the founding of Veterans Day—patriotism, NeighborWorks has been successful in in- I ran for public office. When I was six years courage, perseverance, loyalty and citizenship. creasing homeownership, assisting first-time old I dreamed of becoming a public servant Raymond Weeks demonstrated these qualities home buyers, and empowering residents when I grew up so I could help others. As the in his pursuit of the creation of a National Vet- through education and community engage- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King once said: erans Day and stands as an example of good ment. It is my privilege to serve as an hon- Everybody can be great because anybody citizenship for all students and every genera- orary member of their Board of Trustees, as it can serve . . . You only need a heart full of tion. was the honor of my late husband, Congress- grace. A soul generated by love. The symmetry of service has been a power- man Robert T. Matsui too. I have enjoyed This rings true for a number of great young ful constant through the generations in Ala- working with Pam, and always find her and men and women who served as volunteers bama. her staff to be responsive to the needs of my this year in my office. Their contributions to As an example, recently a rededication was constituents. the constituents we serve are deeply appre- held for the Rainbow Viaduct Memorial in Bir- As our nation’s foreclosure crisis continued ciated and I wish to acknowledge them. They mingham, which commemorates the heroism this past year, the NeighborWorks Sacramento are: Ashley Guill, Ashley Bobo, Aliya Wishner, of the 167th Alabama Infantry during World Region has counseled more than 19,800 cus- Quentin Scott, Anna Bartels, Tara Karoian, War I. At that same ceremony, members of tomers on a variety of housing related issues Lilit Rostomyan, Amanda Osborne, Monique the modern-day 167th Alabama National including foreclosure prevention, refinancing Morgan, Sarah Birk and Francisco Guerra. Guard were recognized as they prepared for and home purchasing. Through their 3 offices, Mr. Speaker, the infusion of energy, intel- deployment to Afghanistan. Almost a century they have prevented more than 400 fore- ligence, and idealism young people bring to apart, the challenges may be different but the closures by helping these distressed home- their internships in my office and those of my ethos of service and duty remains the same. owners acquire loan modifications, and as- colleagues helps keep our democracy vibrant. It is important to remember both what we sisted 2400 residents in purchasing affordable The insights, skills, and knowledge of the gov- honor and who we honor on Veterans Day. homes. In conjunction with the McGeorge ernmental process they gain from their experi- We honor soldiers and their devotion to free- School of Law, NeighborWorks has provided ences will last a lifetime and prove invaluable dom, yes. But we reflect that these are people more than 670 customers with free legal serv- to them as they go about making their mark in around us who have willingly and unselfishly ices through the National Foreclosure Mitiga- this world. served on our behalf: fathers and mothers, tion Counseling program. Through their work, This is why I am so optimistic about our sons and daughters, husbands and wives, they have helped hundreds of families avoid country’s prospects for the future. As Margaret brothers and sisters, grandparents, a favorite homelessness. Mead said: uncle or cousin, a high school buddy or col- Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Never doubt that a small group of thought- lege roommate, a best friend or a childhood the NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center ful, committed citizens can change the playmate. Sacramento Region on its 25th Anniversary. I world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever Some we have joyfully welcomed back from am confident that the organization will con- has. an assignment or waved at during a parade. tinue to be a beacon for those seeking the These particular young people I have had Others we thank at their gravesite, shedding a American dream of homeownership. I ask all the honor of getting to know have displayed tear in their memory. We thank them for their my colleagues to join me in recognizing the extraordinary talent, quality, commitment and sacrifice, bravery, and patriotism. We forget excellence of the staff and of NeighborWorks energy in their time in Washington. Their initia- none of them. Sacramento Region who commit their lives tive and drive have shown me that in time,

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:28 Aug 04, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A02AU8.123 E03AUPT1 rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with REMARKS August 3, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1443 they will assume the responsibility of leader- to thank Ben for his exemplary work, gen- son, in the sitcom, ‘‘The Jeffersons’’ who be- ship. erosity, sense of humor, and loyalty. He will came one of the most enduring, beloved char- Mr. Speaker, if these young men and be sorely missed as a colleague, advisor, and acters in television history. women are a representation of the future, I friend. We wish him the best of luck and ex- Much of that credit belongs to Mr. Hemsley, know our country will remain a nation of fair- tend to him our deepest gratitude. the gifted character actor who gave life to the ness, equality and greatness for generations f blustering black Harlem businessman on ‘‘The to come. Jeffersons’’, one of the longest-running sit- STATEMENT OF INTRODUCTION, f coms with a primarily black cast in television RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE history. GRATITUDE FOR THE SERVICE OF CENSUS BENJAMIN STAUB With the gospel-style theme song of ‘‘Movin’ On Up,’’ the hit show depicted the wealthy HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY former neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR. OF NEW YORK in Queens as they made their way on New OF MICHIGAN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES York’s Upper East Side. The show often dealt IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES with contemporary issues of racism, but more Thursday, August 2, 2012 Thursday, August 2, 2012 frequently reveled in the sitcom archetype of a Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today I am short-tempered, opinionated patriarch trying, Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to proud to be introducing a resolution supporting often unsuccessfully, to control his family. take this opportunity to thank one of the most the importance of census surveys and the dedicated and productive members of the Ju- Despite the character’s many faults data they produce. Special thanks to Senator diciary Committee staff for his service to the Hemsley managed to make the character en- JOHN ROCKEFELLER for his leadership on the House, Benjamin Staub. For six years Ben dearing, part of the reason it stayed on the air issue and for introducing the Senate com- has worked ably and diligently for the Judici- for so long. Hemsley’s Jefferson loved his panion, and to the House original cosponsors, ary Committee, and I would like to commend family, his friends (even the ones he relent- Reps. MICHAEL HONDA, JUDY CHU, KEITH ELLI- him on his achievements. lessly teased) and had a good heart. His per- SON, JOHN OLVER, BETTY MCCOLLUM, JOSE´ After growing up in Greeley and formance was Emmy and Golden Globe nomi- SERRANO, LAURA RICHARDSON, EARL BLU- Silverthorne, Colorado, and being named a nated. The show’s producer Norman Lear said MENAUER, FORTNEY STARK, JOHN LEWIS, and Boettcher Scholar, Ben graduated cum laude that when Hemsley read for the part ‘‘the BARNEY FRANK, for their strong support of cen- from Yale University. During his time at Yale, minute he opened his mouth he was George sus surveys. Ben worked for the Undergraduate Admissions Jefferson.’’ Since our founding, Congress has recog- Office, taught health in New Haven high This man, the son of a printing press-work- nized the value of census surveys to inform schools with the Community Health Educators, ing father and a factory-working mother, policymaking and measure our country’s worked at the Blake Street Head Start and served in the Air Force and worked for eight progress. By including this modern invention in Calvin Hill Day Care, volunteered in the wel- years as a clerk for the Postal Service. our Constitution, the founders turned a survey fare-to-work early childhood educator program into a tool of political empowerment. The de- Having studied acting as a teen at the Phila- at All Our Kin, and served as a Freshman cennial census is the basis for fair representa- delphia Academy of Dramatic Arts, he began Counselor for Davenport College. He served tion and fair distribution of hundreds of billions acting in New York workshops and theater as the Executive Co-Coordinator and on the of dollars in federal aid. In recent times, the in- companies, including the Negro Ensemble Board of Directors of Dwight Hall at Yale—the formation is used by the public and private Company. For years, he kept his job at the student-run nonprofit for community service sectors for planning purposes and to better post office while acting at night, before and social justice with more than 3,000 annual understand the needs of communities. transitioning to acting full-time. Sherman em- undergraduate volunteers. He interned at the The statistics gathered through the Census bodied the American dream, to ‘‘move on up’’. Paris branch office of the UN Office of the Bureau give politicians, researchers, urban He had many other production credits other High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) planners, educators, and other interested than playing George Jefferson. He made his and wrote and recorded a year-long radio col- Americans, a regular and measurable snap- Broadway debut in 1970’s ‘‘Purlie,’’ a musical umn for Colorado Public Radio about his sen- shot of the growth and the socio-economic adaptation of Ossie Davis’ Jim Crow-era play ior year in college. He earned Yale’s John C. status of our Nation. Census programs like the ‘‘Purlie Victorious.’’ (He would later star in a Schroeder Prize for social service and the American Community Survey and the Eco- 1981 made-for-TV version of ‘‘Purlie,’’ as well.) Davenport College Prize for Citizenship. nomic Census provide vital data to federal, It was while touring the show that he was ap- Ben came to Washington following gradua- state, and local governments, to all sectors proached by Lear about playing a character tion to work for the political television adver- and industries, and to all geographic areas on the sitcom that would become ‘‘All in the tising firm of Murphy Putnam Shorr and Part- across the country—from rural to urban to Family.’’ ners, and following the 2006 election, came to suburban neighborhoods. work for the House Judiciary Committee. In an interview Hemsley said his show busi- During his time with the Committee, Ben These surveys are a fundamental building ness career actually began in childhood. has worked on a host of issues of national sig- block for how our country measures itself; the ‘‘Making people laugh was automatic,’’ he nificance—principally in intellectual property value of these statistics cannot be underesti- said. ‘‘I was in a play in elementary school policy, antitrust law, and civil liberties. He dis- mated. They let us know how we are doing as and had to jump up and run away. I was nerv- tinguished himself as an excellent writer and a nation, identifying areas where we could ous and tripped and fell down and everyone was instrumental in the Committee’s work on grow, where we could be more economically laughed. Their laughter made me relax, so I performance rights legislation and protecting efficient, and how best to compete globally. I pretended it was part of the show.’’ intellectual property from digital theft. He au- urge my colleagues to support this resolution. When we visited with each other, I was truly thored large portions and supervised the edit- f impressed with his good-spirited personality ing and publishing of the Committee staff’s re- and optimism that could brighten the mood of IN MEMORY OF SHERMAN port Reigning in the Imperial Presidency: Les- any room he entered. He was a fun man with HEMSLEY sons and Recommendations Relating to the a good heart. He once said, ‘‘I always told my Presidency of George W. Bush, and always mother I wanted a job where I could have a stood ready to work on a host of issues at a HON. CORRINE BROWN lot of fun and have a lot of time off. She asked moment’s notice, including voting rights, health OF FLORIDA me where I was going to find that, and I said, ’I don’t know, but it’s out there.’ ’’ care, civil rights, immigration policies, and Ex- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ecutive Branch oversight. Sherman Hemsley will forever be remem- Thursday, August 2, 2012 Finally, Ben is well known among his peers bered as the loud and boisterous yet good- as a dedicated athlete and began a trend in Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise hearted family man whom he played for al- our office to use stability balls as desk chairs. today in honor and memory of my friend, actor most 10 years. The world is a little less funny On behalf of the Judiciary Committee, its Sherman Hemsley. This man was best known today, and we should all celebrate the mem- staff, and this distinguished body, I would like as the iconic and central figure, George Jeffer- ory of Sherman Hemsley.

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