5684 Hon. James T. Walsh Hon. Jeb Hensarling Hon. Barney
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5684 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS April 5, 2005 confidant. Rev. Wright has served on the outstanding team deserve congratulations rialize as well as it did on this subject. I ask Board of Directors for Greensboro Urban Min- after their third attempt, and consequent vic- that this editorial be printed here. istries, the Greensboro Housing Resource tory, in winning the championship. [From the Sun Chronicle, March 18, 2005] Board, the Greensboro Fair Housing Board, Coach Chip Tatro, Christopher Milke, Jared ACTIVIST EYES TOUGH FIGHT the Greensboro Human Relations Commis- Boisvert, Mike Beck, Anthony Hall, Todd (By David Crary) sion, the Greensboro 100, and the NAACP. Piccola, Dan Gorman, Tim Patchett, Jonathon NEW YORK.—After 12 years advocating for His honors and awards are many. Under his Denniston, Adam Husk, Andy Weaver, Jason abortion rights, Attleboro native Joe leadership, New Zion has been named Clair, Sean McGinn, Chris Timbs are all equal Solmonese might have opted for a less divi- ‘‘Church of the Year’’ by the NAACP more contributors to the outstanding 2005 season. sive field of work. Instead, he is taking over than five times. Rev. Wright, himself, has been I commend the Palmyra Macedon Red leadership of the largest national gay-rights named ‘‘NAACP Man of the Year’’ for 1995. Raiders for their enthusiasm and hard work in group at a time when the same-sex marriage He was recently honored at the NAACP Na- reaching their goal. Congratulations and good debate rivals abortion for volatility and tional Meeting with a community service award luck on future seasons. virulence. ‘‘My challenge is to talk about why the for his role in the K-Mart struggle. f equality we seek is not just important to our Rev. Wright’s leadership in the church is HONORING THE VAN VANDALS community, but should be important to ev- matched by his leadership in the community. eryone,’’ Solmonese said. ‘‘I have to believe Five years before it became fashionable, in the optimism and fair-mindedness of the Wright had the Pulpit Forum release a thirty- HON. JEB HENSARLING American people.’’ two (32) page position paper in which the OF TEXAS Solmonese was named last week as the new president of the Washington-based Human church was challenged to enter into the busi- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ness of confronting the problem of youth and Rights Campaign and will formally assume Tuesday, April 5, 2005 the post April 11. drugs in the community. This work included He plans to start his tenure by traveling workshops, direct contact actions, and visits Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, today I around the country, meeting with state and into the communities where our youth suffer. would like to honor the Van Vandals boys’ local activists. In the spring of 1993, there was a daylong basketball team who won the Texas 3A cham- Since 1993, Solmonese has been a strategist event where thirty young men admitted to pionship on March 11, 2005. In their first trip for EMILY’s List, a political action com- gang involvement and being members of rival to the state finals in sixty-three years, the Van- mittee supporting state and federal can- gangs. Everyone joined together in a joint dals beat Graham High School to return home didacies of Democratic women who favor with the state championship trophy. This is an abortion rights. He was its chief executive statement declaring an end to his gang rival- 1 accomplishment that the young men on the for the past 2 ⁄2 years, helping break fund- ries. raising records but also seeing candidates his On a personal level, this Pastor is known in team will remember for the rest of their lives. group endorsed lose 2004 Senate races in the Greensboro community as a ‘‘Pastor’s As the congressional representative of the Florida, South Carolina and Missouri. Pastor,’’ a mentor, and a friend to all. His members, coaches, and supporters of the Van Solmonese, 40, graduated from Boston Uni- ready demeanor makes him readily available Vandals, it is my pleasure to recognize their versity with a degree in communications to pastors for counseling and friendship. He is outstanding accomplishment today on the floor after growing up in Attleboro. One of his role often called upon for advice by struggling con- of the United States House of Representa- models was the local congressman, BARNEY gregations and has more than once been tives. FRANK—who disclosed his homosexuality in 1987 when openly gay politicians were almost called upon to present leadership training to f unheard of. churches and deacons. SUN CHRONICLE HAILS APPOINT- ‘‘Barney Frank is an incredibly heroic per- Rev. Wright is married to Narcissus Har- MENT OF ATTLEBORO NATIVE son, but also someone who is absolutely in grove Wright of Henderson, North Carolina touch with his constituency,’’ Solmonese and the proud father of four children: Billy, said in a telephone interview. ‘‘He’s a man Wendi, Nicole and Ashley. The Wrights pres- HON. BARNEY FRANK who values family more than anyone I ently make their home in Greensboro, North OF MASSACHUSETTS know.’’ Carolina. Solmonese came out as gay in his early IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 20s; he recalls attending a Human Rights Mr. Speaker, Reverend William F. Wright, Tuesday, April 5, 2005 Campaign dinner when he was 22. Before Jr. has used his position as a spiritual and joining EMILY’s List, he was an aide to community leader to improve the lives of those Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis around him, and his 25th Pastoral Anniversary since 1982, my Congressional activities have and a fund-raiser for Frank. is yet another reminder of all of the good work been covered by the Sun Chronicle, which He credits his parents, both school- he has accomplished. As such, he is more provides news for the Greater Attleboro, Mas- teachers, with inspiring him to pursue a ca- than worthy of receiving our recognition today. sachusetts area. It is a newspaper which un- reer of political activism. Solmonese Ele- Thus, I urge my colleagues to join me in hon- derstands the importance of solid and thought- mentary School in Norton is named after his father, Joseph. oring this truly remarkable person. ful coverage of events that happen within its area. At the same time, it pays due attention ‘‘After a decade in the reproductive rights f movement, I see myself having been in the to national issues, and it has also been an im- fight for a progressive America,’’ he said. HONORING PALMYRA MACEDON portant advocate for fair treatment for that part ‘‘Groups like the HRC are very much at the BOYS’ BASKETBALL CLASS B of Massachusetts in which it circulates. forefront of that fight.’’ STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Its interest in all three of these elements Another common denominator for the came together on March 18 when the Sun abortion-rights and gay rights movements is Chronicle published a gracious and thoughtful their determined and politically well-con- HON. JAMES T. WALSH nected opposition. Conservative leaders who OF NEW YORK editorial about the appointment of an Attleboro native, Joe Solmonese, to be the head of the focus on those two issues have claimed credit IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES for the Republicans’ strong showing in the Human Rights Campaign. The Human Rights Tuesday, April 5, 2005 2004 election. Campaign is a major voice for fair treatment ‘‘The American people fear a whole range Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered of things right now, from terrorism to their tribute to the Palmyra Macedon Red Raiders, people, and I am among those who was very economic future,’’ Solmonese said. ‘‘Our op- the varsity boys’ basketball team that won pleased that Mr. Solmonese was selected, position has been pretty crafty at capital- their first Class B State Title. The 57–47 vic- given the combination of skill and talent that izing on that fear, using whatever means tory was well earned after trailing to the Carle he brings to the job. necessary to make political gains.’’ Many conservative groups are now waging Place Frogs for the majority of the game. As the Sun Chronicle noted, ‘‘Attleboro is a two-pronged fight against gay marriage. Junior shooting guard Anthony Hall scored a honored by the appointment of a city native to They are lobbying Congress to approve a fed- game-high 26 points, and helped the Red head the Human Rights Campaign’’ and it is eral constitutional amendment defining Raiders get back into the lead in the final also honored and fortunate to have a news- marriage as the union of a man and a quarter. Coach Chip Tatro and the rest of this paper with the generosity of spirit to edito- woman; they also hope many more states VerDate Sep 11 2014 10:24 Jan 23, 2017 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00131 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 0634 E:\FDSYS\2005BOUNDRECORD\BOOK4\NO_SSN\BR05AP05.DAT BR05AP05 ejoyner on DSK30MW082PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE.