CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2203 HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION It is for these reasons that I urge my col- the Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging PARTNERSHIPS ACT OF 1998 leagues to support S. 1754. The Health Pro- for the past two years. President Kennedy fessions Education Partnerships Act health is said, ``Change is the law of life. And those SPEECH OF an absolutely essential link to helping the Na- who look only to the past or present are cer- HON. tion to effectively address the shocking dis- tain to miss the future.'' During his tenure, Ron OF OHIO parities in the status of minority health. has worked diligently with the Board of Direc- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Vote ``yes'' on S. 1754. tors and senior managers to reshape the Jew- Tuesday, October 13, 1998 f ish Home to prepare it to meet the many chal- lenges facing the health care industry. Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support A TRIBUTE TO THOMAS Under Ron's leadership, they conducted and of S. 1754, the Health Professions Education SHARRARD—1998 INSTITUTE FOR completed a Capital Campaign Planning and Partnerships Act of 1998. This measure reau- HUMAN RELATIONS AWARD WIN- Feasibility Study and implemented a strategic thorizes the health professions and nursing NER planning process to determine the future de- training and education programs contained velopment of the Jewish Home. He recruited a within titles VII and VIII of the Public Health HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA new development director to enhance the or- Service Act. S. 1754 is a bipartisan effort to OF WISCONSIN ganization's fundraising abilities. He has orga- strengthen these critical programsÐwhich do nizationally streamlined the Jewish Home by so much to provide a workforce that is tar- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Thursday, October 15, 1998 restructuring the Board of Directors, reducing geted to address the Nation's critical health their size, reducing the size of the executive care needs. Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to committee and revising their bylaws. These Among the programs reauthorized by this honor Thomas E. Sharrard, this year's recipi- important implementations have improved the legislation are the: Minority Centers of Excel- ent of the American Jewish Committee's Insti- Jewish Home's overall efficiency and effective- lence Program; Exceptional Financial Need tute for Human Relations Award. Scholarships; Faculty Loan Repayment Pro- ness. The American Jewish Committee, which Ronald Scheinman's vision for the future of gram; Scholarships for Disadvantaged Stu- was formed in 1906, promotes research and the Jewish Home for the Aging has trans- dents and the Office of Minority Health at the programs which combat all forms of bigotry Department of Health and Human Services. formed the Home into a present-day reality and discrimination. The group also works to that is providing a very important service to These and other critical programs provide val- promote human rights and advocates public uable institutionally-based training opportuni- many of Los Angeles' Jewish senior citizens. policy positions rooted in American democratic Ron has helped to ensure that the Home will ties for health professions students in primary values. care as well as individual grant and scholar- continue to provide quality care to a growing The Institute for Human Relations Award is and often neglected portion of our population. ship support for disadvantaged health profes- being given to Tom Sharrard in recognition of sions students. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Mr. his outstanding contributions to our commu- Mr. Speaker, while every racial and ethnic Ronald L. Scheinman, Esq. for his service to nity. Tom is probably best known as the hard group experiences some health disparity, Afri- the Jewish Community as Chairman of the can Americans and other underserved Ameri- working and innovative president of Time War- Board of the Los Angeles Jewish Home for cans continue to suffer with disproportionately ner Cable's Milwaukee Division. But equally the Aging. higher rates of death and disease. In recent impressive are his civic and philanthropic ac- f complishments and activities. years, we have seen unprecedented advances CONGRESSMAN in biomedical research, the diagnosis of dis- Despite his busy schedule, Tom finds time to be involved with a number of community or- JR.: A LEADER IN THE STRUG- ease and the delivery of health care services. GLE FOR JUSTICE However, the African American community ganizations, such as the Greater Milwaukee and other communities of color have not fully Committee, the Boys and Girls Club of Great- nor equally benefited from these new discov- er Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Public Library HON. , JR. eries. In fact, African Americans and other mi- Foundation, and the Betty Brinn Childrens Mu- OF norities continue to face historical barriers to seum. He also serves on the advisory commit- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tee for the Artist Series at the Pabst and the good health, including the lack of access to Thursday, October 15, 1998 quality health care. Alliance for Future Transit, and is a member of More than a decade after the Secretary of both the Wisconsin Cable Association and the Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, my family and the Department of Health and Human Serv- National Cable Television Association. I were saddened to learn of the death of my ices' 1985 Task Force Report on Black and In the true spirit of the Institute for Human longtime friend and former colleague, Con- Minority Health, African Americans continue Relations Award, Tom Sharrard has regularly gressman Charles Diggs Jr., the first African to: suffer with disproportionate rates of cancer, crusaded for opportunities for women and American elected to Congress from Michigan. cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke other under-represented groups in the cable Congressman Diggs paved the way for an en- and HIV/AIDS; experience a rate of infant television industry. In fact, Tom was recently tire generation of African American political mortality that is twice that of whites; live short- awarded the Wisconsin Governor's Glass Ceil- leaders, not just in his home state, but er lives than the general population and en- ing Award, which recognizes efforts to achieve throughout the nation. When I first arrived in dure 70,000 excess deaths every year. This equity and fairness in the workplace. Washington in 1965, Congressman Diggs had health crisis is further exacerbated by the se- And so it is with great pleasure that I join been there 10 years and had earned a well vere underrepresentation of minorities in the with Tom Sharrard's many business associ- deserved reputation as a fearless fighter for health professions, the fact that there has ates, family and friends in congratulating him justice for poor and oppressed people. In my been very little growth in the number of minor- on receiving the 1998 Institute for Human Re- early days in Congress, he helped me find my ity medical school matriculants and by current lations Award, deserved honor. May our com- way through the maze of Washington politics. efforts to roll back affirmative action. munity continue to reap the benefits of Tom's I knew I could rely on him for sound advice. While recent reports predict a general over- compassion and commitment for many years Congressman Diggs was not afraid to speak supply of physicians and other health care to come. the truth. During his tenure in Congress, his providers, this is not the case where minority f was a resounding voice for millions of African health care professionals are concerned. For Americans whose words were muted and example, while African Americans and His- TRIBUTE TO RONALD L. whose dreams were bruised by the cruel panic Americans comprise 13 percent and 11 SCHEINMAN forces of discrimination and intimidation. In percent of the population, they matters of international affairs, he was the first represent only 3.2 percent and 4.4 percent of HON. BRAD SHERMAN member of Congress to promote Africa as a the Nation's practicing physicians. This is sig- OF CALIFORNIA key part of the U.S. foreign agenda, and he nificant because studies show that minority IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES was chair of the House Subcommittee on Afri- health professionals are more likely to serve in can Affairs. He was also a founding member underserved communities, providing a dis- Thursday, October 15, 1998 of the Congressional Black Caucus, as was I. proportionate amount of care to the most vul- Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to For Detroiters, the name Diggs has a par- nerable among usÐthe poor and the under- pay tribute to Mr. Ronald L. Scheinman, Esq. ticular resonance. Congressman Diggs' par- served. for his service as Chairman of the Board of ents were community activists who operated a E2204 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks October 15, 1998 funeral home that gave proper funerals to gen- Charles C. Diggs Sr. and Mayne E. Jones. Michigan State Senate, and served two erations of residents, even when the The Diggs seniors were morticians, pioneers terms. He successfully sponsored Michigan’s grieving families were short on funds. On a in business, public servants and community first Fair Employment Practices Law, estab- activists. Diggs Sr. was elected in 1936 as lishing the Fair Employment Practices Com- more personal note, the Diggs family and the Michigan’s first Black Democratic state sen- mission to eliminate racial and related dis- Conyers family have known each other for ator. The first Black state senator had been crimination in Michigan public or private. more than half a century. Charlie Diggs and I Republican Atty. Charles Roxborough, elect- He also sponsored legislation legalizing DNA learned early on that we all have a respon- ed for a two-year term in 1932, but he did not blood tests to determine a child’s rightful sibility to carry the banner for justice and seek reelection after serving until 1934. paternity/maternity link, and Michigan be- equality. He never forgot that lesson, and he Sen. Diggs headed the Michigan Federated came the pioneer state to enact this statute. remained convinced of the limitless potential Democratic League in Detroit which was He then dropped out of law school as driving considered the largest organized force of Af- 85 miles each way to and from Detroit four of Detroit and Detroiters. rican Americans in the state. He was ac- I am proud to have served with him. days a week became too burdensome for his knowledged to be the period’s most out- additional legislative and constituency obli- My entire family extends its deepest sym- standing politician and was particularly gations. pathies to the Diggs family. Our city and our noted for authoring Michigan’s reverently In 1953, as a second term state senator, he country have lost another brave warrior in the innovative law prohibiting racial or related ran for the Detroit City Council, a city-wide, struggle for freedom. discrimination in public-service places; the non-partisan election never before won by a ‘‘Diggs Law,’’ as it was named, was enacted Black candidate; he was marginally defeated [From the Michigan Chronicle, Sept. 2–8, in 1937. His son, Charles C. Diggs Jr. grad- 1998.] by a White female. However, his unprece- uated from Miller High School in 1940 as dented showing is widely credited for gener- LIFE AND TIMES OF CONGRESSMAN CHARLES C. president of his class and third speaker on ating the momentum which four years later DIGGS, JR. its champion debating team coached by contributed substantially to the successful Detroit lost another link to its historic English professor Alvin Loving. From Sep- election of Atty. William T. Patrick Jr. as past with the death of Charles C. Diggs, Jr. tember 1940 to June 1942, he attended the the city’s first African American member of in West Virginia. and won the institu- the council. He was 75. tion’s coveted oratorical championship in Nevertheless, because of the strong voter Federal Judge , the con- 1941. support Diggs received in the 13th Congres- gressman’s former wife, said, ‘‘I am much When World War II started in 1942 he sional District in his referenced bid in 1953 saddened by the news. He was a great man sought admission at Detroit’s Navy recruit- for the council, he challenged the 14-year in- with great strengths and weaknesses as ing office, but was rejected, allegedly for cumbent Congressman George O’Brien the well.’’ ‘‘poor eyesight.’’ Of course, his eyesight was next year in 1954. Diggs overwhelmingly de- ‘‘I hope he will be remembered for his sufficient, but he was denied admission be- feated O’Brien three-to-one in that Demo- many gifts and for consistently fighting the cause the Navy was segregated, like the rest cratic primary becoming Michigan’s first good fight on behalf of his people through of the armed services in those days. Opportu- Black member of the U.S. House of Rep- lonely and dangerous times,’’ she continued. nities for Blacks were limited to menial resentatives where he served with distinc- Michigan’s first Black congressman and tasks, for which he was obviously over-quali- tion until his retirement in 1980. the founder of the Congressional Black Cau- fied. THE CASE cus, Diggs was the heir to a family political Moreover, since Diggs, Sr. was a Michigan dynasty in local politics and a leading advo- state senator and a militant activist, the In 1955 as a freshman congressman he was cate in Washington, D.C. for civil rights and Navy feared public criticism would result. propelled across the international scene by African affairs during his 25 years in Con- However, Diggs Jr. was drafted in April 1943 his attendance at the infamous Emmett Till gress. after one semester during his third college kidnap/murder trial in Mississippi, next to Following in the footsteps of his father, year which began in September 1942 at his- Issaqueena County where his father was born Charles Diggs, Sr., Michigan’s first Black torically Black , Nashville, and his grandfather, Rev. James J. Diggs, Democratic state senator, Diggs, Jr. was the Tenn. founded the Woodland Baptist Church, in the youngest elected member of the Michigan Following his basic training as a private at late 1800s. It still stands, a permanent re- Senate in 1950. He made an unsuccessful run Kearns Field. Salt Lake City, Utah, he was minder of his many achievements including for Detroit City Council in 1953 before suc- sent to the Army administration school, At- service as a Baptist minister missionary to cessfully running against 14-year incumbent lanta University in Georgia. After graduat- Liberia in Africa. Congressman George O’Brien in 1954. ing there, where he and his roommate were The egregious miscarriage of justice which Diggs took office in 1955 as the representa- top of their class, he was promoted to pri- acquitted the White male defendants who tive for Detroit’s 13th Congressional Dis- vate first class and reassigned to the third committed violent crimes against that 14- trict. He immediately received national no- EAUTC Headquarters, Tampa, Fla. Shortly year-old teenager who dared not conform toriety during the infamous Emmett Till after, he was sent to another military ad- with Mississippi’s racial standards focused murder trial in Mississippi. After several ministration school in South Dakota State global attention on the worst plight of Black White defendants were acquitted in the mur- College, Brookings, South Dakota and was America. der of the 14-year-old. Diggs spoke around promoted to corporal. Upon graduation, he After Diggs’ attendance at the trial, as al- the country about the case. was returned to the third EAUTIC. He was ways replayed in old films on TV, particu- Diggs made his greatest contributions as a subsequently elevated to buck-sergeant, and larly during Black History Month each year, member of Congress and later chairman of three months later he was appointed to the the NAACP got him to speak throughout the the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Army Air Force Officer Candidate School, U.S. about the victimization of Emmett Till, Among his notable crusades were Support of Miami Beach. Upon graduation there as a to inspire support for corrective federal/ home rule for Washington, D.C. creation of second lieutenant, he was reassigned to the state/local civil rights laws and customs. the Congressional Black Caucus in 1969, help- famed Black Army Air Force Base at HE LEFT HIS MARK ON WASHINGTON ing to found TransAfrica, a think-tank on Tuskegee, Ala. When World War II ended, During his first four years in Washington African and Caribbean affairs, founding the Diggs was honorably released from active (1955–59), Diggs was assigned to the House National Black Political Convention in duty in June 1945, and he returned to De- Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Gary, Ind., authoring legislation preserving troit. In 1959 President Eisenhower sent Diggs on the Frederick Douglas Home in Anacostia. He then attended and graduated from a mission, in the PAC–AF Command from In 1978, Diggs was charged with padding his ’s College of Mor- Hawaii to the Philippines plus other Pacific congressional staff payroll, but was reelected tuary Science in June 1946 and became gen- islands and Japan to report on minority con- by Detroit voters. In 1980, he resigned from eral manager of the House of Diggs, Michi- ditions in those areas of the U.S. Armed office after being convicted of crimes related gan’s largest funeral business, founded in Forces. He was accompanied by Lt. Colonel to those charges. 1921. Succeeding his father, Diggs Jr. subse- ‘‘Chappie’’ James, with whom he had been He then donated more than 1,000 boxes of quently became president of the metropoli- stationed at the Black American Army Air his personal papers to the Moorland- tan Funeral System, Michigan’s only burial Field Headquarters (Tuskegee, Ala.) and who Springarn Collection on the Howard Univer- insurance company. It then became Detroit later became our first Black 4-Star General sity Campus. In the later years of his life, Metropolitan Mutual Insurance Co., which in the Air Force. Diggs practiced mortuary science in Vir- later combined with Mammoth Life in Louis- Diggs’ comprehensive report, supported by ginia, Michigan and Ohio. ville, Ky. Mammoth has since merged with extensive interviews and on-site investiga- Following Diggs’ departure from Congress, Atlanta Life in Georgia and is currently the tions, caused the creation of an Armed the late Judge George Crockett became the largest Black-owned insurance company in Forces Commission to address segregation 13th District Representative, followed by the United States. and discrimination within the command. Barbara Rose Collins. Carolyn Cheeks Kil- In September 1950, Diggs, Jr, enrolled at This commission was continued in 1961 under patrick is the current congressperson. the Detroit College of Law as a night stu- the next president, John F. Kennedy, whom Charles C. Diggs Jr. was born Dec. 2, 1922 in dent, but after only one semester he was Congressman Diggs had strongly supported Detroit, the only child of his late parents, elected as the youngest member of the in the 1960 general federal elections. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2205 Additionally, during his first four years in have been only two other Congressmen, Bill A year later he went to Saunders Trades the U.S. House of Representatives, Diggs Dawson (D–Ill.) and John Lewis (D–Ga.) who and Technical High School where, drawing on also served on the House Interior and Insular have been to that college. Diggs also has a his experience, he established innovative pro- Affairs Committee (now House Resources). mortuary science degree from Wayne State His ardent advocacy of statehood legislation University, was the sole principal proprietor grams to assure significant employment op- was one of the prime subjects under its juris- mortician in the Metropolitan Tri-State area portunities for his students. diction. Focus was on the Hawaii/Alaska pro- of Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia, In 1984 he became Director of Occupational posals, which in 1959 established Democratic and was a Howard University graduate. He Education and served as a Special Assistant Hawaii and Republican Alaska as the 49/50th also holds honorary doctor of law degrees to the Superintendent in 1986. From 1987 until states in the union. from Ohio’s Wilberforce University and Cen- 1993 he was Deputy Superintendent and that As chairman of the D.C. committee, Diggs tral State College, North Carolina’s Agricul- year he was named Superintendent. sponsored legislation authorizing preserva- tural and Technical State University and the He has worked tirelessly to redesign the tion of the Frederick Douglas Home in Ana- University of the District of Columbia. costia, Southeast D.C., by having it des- He is survived by his wife, Darlene Diggs of school system in the areas of curriculum, ignated a national historical site within the Mississippi; six children, Charles C. Diggs III, standards, goals and accountability. Among jurisdiction of the U.S. Interior Department. Denise Taylor Diggs, Alexis Robinson Diggs, his many accomplishments, he increased the This designation replaced its previous bene- Douglass Diggs, Carla Mathis Diggs, Cindy use of computer networks, established com- factor, Dr. Rosa Cragg of Detroit and the Na- Carter Diggs, and 12 granchildren. munity, university and business partnerships tional Association of Colored Women’s f within each school to expand student opportu- Clubs, under whose aegis the Douglass Home nities, worked with the professional staff to im- unfortunately had languished, principally TRIBUTE TO CLEVELAND AMORY because of the latter’s limited resources and prove morale and make the district competitive those of the Frederick Douglass Memorial in attracting and retaining professional staff. and Historical Association Inc. HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY Reginald Marra has earned the respect and In 1959 Diggs also became the first Black OF NEW YORK thanks of the City of Yonkers, its students, member of Congress appointed to the House IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES past, present and to come, and their parents. Foreign Affairs Committee. He had sought Thursday, October 15, 1998 I am proud to join them in this salute. this assignment after his selection in 1957 by f President Eisenhower, to be part of the U.S. Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, Delegation to the Independence of Ghana in as a member of the Congressional Friends of PERSONAL EXPLANATION West Africa. The delegation, headed by vice Animals, I'd like to pay tribute to a very special president Richard Nixon, had been flown constituent of mine. Cleveland Amory, noted HON. JULIA CARSON there on a ‘‘prop-ship’’ through a midway is- author and founder of The Fund for Animals, land refuel stop, since this was before the OF INDIANA died at his home in New York City on ‘‘jet-propulsion’’ age. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The prime Foreign Affairs Committee con- Wednesday night. Mr. Amory devoted the last sideration during his first two years was to 31 years of his life to ``speaking for those who Thursday, October 15, 1998 authorize establishment of the Peace Corps. can't'' as the unpaid President of The Fund for Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoid- Given Diggs’ enhanced African interest fol- Animals. In his years at the helm of this na- ably absent yesterday, Wednesday, October lowing referenced mission to Ghana, he knew tional animal protection group, he has im- 14, 1998, and as a result, missed rollcall votes how important the Peace Corps would be in printed millions in our society with the notion furthering numerous developments on that 530 and 531. Had I been present, I would ancient colonized continent. This prompted that we should treat animals with both de- have voted no on rollcall vote 530 and yes on him to be one of the committee’s strongest cency and dignity. rollcall 531. and most respected advocates of the Corps. During three decades of advocacy for ani- f Subsequent positive activities of Peace mals, Mr. Amory and his group led the way in Corps Volunteers (PCVs) fully justified his dramatic rescues of animals all over the coun- IN HONOR OF PATTY S. BRYANT continued, invaluable support. try. He airlifted hundreds of wild burros from Upon his request he was also appointed, in the Grand Canyon who were destined to be HON. ANNE M. NORTHUP 1959, to the insignificant subcommittee on shot by the National Park Service. They joined Africa, which he immediately stimulated. In OF KENTUCKY thousands of other animals, all snatched out 1969, a decade thereafter, he rose to its chair- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES manship and maintained historic levels of of harm's way by Mr. Amory, at his Black the committee’s activation until his retire- Beauty Ranch animal sanctuary in Texas. Thursday, October 15, 1998 ment in 1980. Based on his extensive travels Black Beauty Ranch now stretches over Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, it is with abroad plus meetings with African leaders 1,000 acres and will serve as the final resting great pleasure that I rise today to recognize and elsewhere regarding African policies, place for a man who was known as the grand- Patty S. Bryant, a teacher at Pleasure Ridge plus his unmatched official hearings, Diggs father of the animal protection community. The Park High School in my district of Louisville, became one of our nation’s leading spokes- world needs more people like Cleveland persons on this subject. Kentucky. Ms. Bryant will be honored with the TRANSAFRICA, America’s premier think- Amory and I hope his legacy of compassion First Place National Award for Teaching Eco- tank on African and Caribbean issues, was will continue to live on. nomics by the National Council on Economic founded in Diggs’ office where its current ex- f Education at its conference here in Washing- ecutive director, , was HONORING REGINALD F. MARRA ton, DC, tomorrow. Diggs’ administrative assistant. The National Awards program recognizes In 1969–70 Diggs founded and became the outstanding, innovative, economic education first chairman of the Congressional Black HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL Caucus. William L. Clay, one of the impor- teaching practices, stimulating improvements OF NEW YORK in the teaching of economics and providing ex- tant players in Congress and author of the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES book, ‘‘Just Permanent Interests,’’ is the amples of innovative teaching practices for senior member of the Missouri Congressional Thursday, October 15, 1998 replication in classrooms around the country. Delegation and a founding member of the Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to The goal is to increase student economic un- Congressional Black Caucus. Inside the book, speak in praise of a man who has served with derstanding as a result of enhanced teaching he states, ‘‘Charlie: We would not have made distinction in the Yonkers school system for 35 practices. so much progress in the caucus had it not been for your leadership, signed Bill, 9/24/92.’’ yearsÐReginald F. Marra. He started in 1963 The National Council on Economic Edu- In 1971 Diggs served as a full delegate to the as an Industrial Arts teacher at Yonkers High cation is a unique nonprofit partnership of United Nation’s general assembly while School and has recently retired as Super- leaders in education, business and labor de- George Bush, with whom he had served in intendent of the state's fourth largest school voted to helping youngsters learn to think and the House, was the Delegation’s ambassador district with 24,000 students and a quarter of function in a changing global economy. before he became president of the United a billion dollar operating budget. The shocking reality is that high school and States. Congressman Ed Derwinski (R–Ill) His career has been one of increasing re- college students know little about how the was another appointed full delegate and he sponsibility. His second position was as guid- economic system works and what they need later became the first secretary of the Veter- ans Administration. ance counselor. In 1970 he was named Ad- to know to work successfully in it. The price of In addition to his one semester at Fisk ministrative Assistant, two years later he was economic illiteracy is young people who are University, Nashville (1942–43) then being named Assistant Principal and in 1973 Prin- unfamiliar with the basics of saving, investing, drafted into the U.S. Armed Services, there cipal of Commerce Middle School. the uses of money and credit and adults who