April 17, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H2073 Always more than a radio station, it ley South, the hotline show in the evening with greater; though created mortal and fal- belonged to the community and was journalist Lu Palmer doing a notebook series lible, we need Your gifts of wisdom and the heart of the community. So I con- called ‘‘Lou’s notebook.’’ Lou spearheaded the patience to find partners, even in sur- gratulate Melody Spann Cooper and all election of Harold Washington as Chicago’s prising and unlikely places, with whom of those who have made WVON what it first Black mayor with the slogan, ‘‘We Shall we must work together to benefit our is today: the voice of the Nation. See in ’83.’’ country and our world. Congratulations to WVON Radio on fifty Upon the urging of Wesley South,a radio We turn to You, Source of Peace, to years of broadcasting. talk show pioneer, WVON changed to a talk inspire and support the leaders of our Mr. Speaker, On April 1, 1963, WVON format and has never looked back. It has been Nation to find accord even in these Radio in Chicago, Illinois was launched and instrumental in not only electing Harold Wash- times of challenge. May it be Your will since that time has gone from being ‘‘the voice ington as Chicago’s first Black mayor, but also that in recognizing the Unity of the Di- of the negro’’ to ‘‘the voice of the Nation.’’ in electing Carol Mosley Braun, U.S. Senator; vine, they will strive to foster a similar WVON began when two brothers, Leonard Barack Obama, United States Senator; and unity among themselves for the sake of and Phil Chess, the owners of Chess Barack Obama, President of the United States this great Nation. Records, a successful record company with a of America. Joining together, we say the Hebrew plentiful supply of local music talent under WVON’s current line-up of hosts are some word affirming faith; faith in each their banner, such as Muddy Waters, Lil’ of the best in the Nation: Cliff Kelly, called the other, continued faith in humanity, Howlin Wolf, Jimmy Reed and others, who governor of talk radio; Matt McGill; Perry and faith in the Holiness beyond us. needed an outlet for their music. Therefore, Small; Reverend Al Sharpton; Saleem Amen. the brothers bought WHFC–1450 AM, a 1000 Muwakil; Kendall Moore; Dr. Leon Finney; and f watt station licensed in Cicero, Illinois. from time to time, Pam Morris, Dr. Terry On April 1, 1963, WVON hit the airwaves in Mason, and countless others who buy time THE JOURNAL Chicago with a group of hand-picked personal- like Garfield Major, talking to the people. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ities: Franklin McCarthy, E. Rodney Jones, Congratulations to Melody Spann Cooper Chair has examined the Journal of the Herb Kent, Wesley South, and Pervis Spann. and all of those who have helped to make last day’s proceedings and announces They became known as ‘‘The Good Guys’’ WVON Radio what it is today. to the House his approval thereof. and Ric Ricardo, Bill ‘‘Butterball’’ Crane, Ed f Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- Cook, Joe Cobb, Roy Wood, Ed Maloney, Bill nal stands approved. RECESS ‘‘Doc’’ Lee, Don Cornelius, Richard Pegue, f Isabel Joseph Johnson, Cecil Hale, and The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- McKee Fitghugh eventfully joined the roster. ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Under the direction of the station’s general declares the House in recess until noon The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the manager, Lucky Cordell, and its ‘‘Ambassador today. gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. of Good Will’’, Bernadine C. Washington, The Accordingly (at 10 o’clock and 37 LANKFORD) come forward and lead the Good Guys held Black Chicago captive for minutes a.m.), the House stood in re- House in the Pledge of Allegiance. more than a decade and ranked consistently cess. Mr. LANKFORD led the Pledge of Al- in the top five of the most listened to stations f legiance as follows: in the market. b 1200 I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the The power of WVON went beyond the Chi- United States of America, and to the Repub- cago market. Berry Gordy, the founder of AFTER RECESS lic for which it stands, one nation under God, Motown Records had a special arrangement The recess having expired, the House indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. with WVON that every song he produced was called to order by the Speaker pro f would be sent immediately to WVON before tempore (Mr. WOMACK) at noon. WELCOMING RABBI ROBERT any other station. WVON was so powerful that f SILVERS it produced airplay in other markets, which im- pacted the overall sales and success of the PRAYER The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without project. Rabbi Robert Silvers, Congregation objection, the gentleman from Florida WVON has always been more than a radio B’Nai Israel, Boca Raton, Florida, of- (Mr. DEUTCH) is recognized for 1 station. During a time when Blacks were ac- fered the following prayer: minute. tively involved in the civil rights movement, Eternal God, we children of human- There was no objection. WVON was the voice of information for local ity pray to You by many names, but in Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I’m proud and national affairs. During the riots that fol- our hearts we all know You as One. to have the opportunity to welcome lowed the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Your unity creates the common bond one of my constituents, Rabbi Robert WVON on-air personalities were there to lift between us and is our common bond Silvers, of the Congregation B’Nai the tension that had erupted in neighborhoods with You. And though Your absolute Israel in Boca Raton, Florida, as he of- across the city. They pleaded for calmness. truth eludes us, nonetheless we strive fered the opening prayer here today. He Following the death of Chess in 1969, the to be more like You and to carry out is a leader in the Jewish community in family decided to sell WVON to George Gil- Your will for humanity: that we live south Florida. His life epitomizes the lette (heir to the Shaving Products Company) together in peace. Jewish tradition of tikkun olam— and to Potter Palmer (heir to Palmer house) And though some seek to disrupt the bettering the world. who formed Globetrotter Communications. peace and deprive us of our very lives, Rabbi Silvers’ impact is felt well be- Their first order of business was to take as we witnessed in Boston, we pray, O yond the 1,200 families of Congregation WVON from 1450 frequency to 5,000 watt God, that their actions be thwarted and B’Nai Israel, with pastoral work and 1390 signal, which would improve their cov- that You continue to shelter us with care that he provides not only to his erage of Chicago. The 1450 frequency was Your canopy of peace. Send healing of own congregation but also to the great- left dormant. body and soul, O God, to the victims of er local community as a volunteer In 1977, Globetrotter Communications sold this act of terror, to our Nation, and to chaplain for the Palm Beach County WVON to the Gannett Company, whose major all who grieve with them. Keep forever Sheriff’s Office. He has served as presi- holdings were in print media. Gannett had pur- in Your loving embrace the souls of dent of the Palm Beach County Board chased an FM station in Chicago which be- those who lost their lives. of Rabbis and as president of the Great- came known as WGCI. In 1979, Wesley South We pray that those who do harm be er Boca Raton Religious Leaders Asso- and Pervis Spann formed Midway Broad- brought to justice and that You, O God, ciation, an interfaith coalition of cler- casting Corporation and purchased the license instill in all peoples everywhere a love gy. Rabbi Silvers has been involved in for the 1450 AM frequency. of humanity and a respect for each and education and interfaith dialogue Their station WXOL premiered in August of every human being created in Your di- throughout south Florida. 1979 and remains one of the few minority- vine image. I’m proud to call Rabbi Silvers and owned stations in the market. WVON became Help us, O God, to realize that each his wife, Ava, friends. I welcome them a mixed music/talk radio station and with Wes- of us holds a glimpse of something and all of his congregants who watched

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:50 Apr 18, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K17AP7.006 H17APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H2074 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 17, 2013 on C–SPAN as he delivered this mean- minute and to revise and extend his re- for 1 minute and to revise and extend ingful prayer. marks.) his remarks.) f Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. Speaker, in a draw attention to cutting-edge re- historic red brick building in Philadel- ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER search now underway at the Charles C. phia, a man and his staff performed PRO TEMPORE Gates Center for Regenerative Medi- thousands of abortions under horrid The SPEAKER pro tempore. The cine and Stem Cell Biology at the Uni- conditions, which has led to a murder Chair will entertain 15 further requests versity of Colorado in Aurora. As you trial which is currently under way for for 1-minute speeches on each side of know, our Nation faces major defi- seven children and one adult. Some the aisle. ciencies in its ability to maintain an children were torn apart with surgical f adequate blood supply for civilian and instruments in the womb. Some moth- military demands. Traditional methods ers were given abortion-inducing drugs THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA for obtaining blood or producing a new and were seated on a toilet until they (Mr. MCCARTHY of California asked supply fall far short of current demand. delivered their baby into that toilet. and was given permission to address But a collaborative effort at the Other women had their labor induced; the House for 1 minute.) Gates Center at the University of Colo- and when they delivered, an assistant Mr. MCCARTHY of California. As we rado is working to develop a new tech- flipped the baby over and used the scis- gather today in this House, we opened nology that enables the rapid growth of sors to cut their spinal cord. it with prayer—prayer to remember adult blood stem cells. This propri- The horrific murder of innocent chil- those families, those children, those etary technology can generate large dren was repeated over and over again runners, those spectators that were numbers of cells that can be frozen and in the clinic; but amazingly enough, lost in Boston. As I watched that hor- thawed while retaining their stem cell only the children fully out of the womb rific incident, I paused for a moment. characteristics. This also means that are considered murder victims. Can At the same time that I saw this tragic soon there will be an ability to culture someone explain to me how the chil- incident, I also saw the spirit of Amer- adult blood stem cells in an almost in- dren of the same age, size, and develop- ica. The spirit of America was with definite manner. ment, who were still in the womb when those individuals who rushed in to This research is being funded with they were torn to pieces by surgical in- help, not knowing whether they would peer-reviewed grants from NIH, and struments, are not victims of murder, be injured or not, not knowing what they have joined a consortium funded but those who were delivered and then would happen to them. But they rushed by DARPA to further help develop the their spinal cord was cut three feet to help one another. Red Blood Cell program. I’m very hope- from their mother are victims of mur- I want this body to instill that same ful about the research at the Charles C. der? American spirit—that we are bound to- Gates Center, and I urge support for I will never understand the strained gether—so that we will remember their efforts. logic that says if a child is killed where those lost, but more importantly, we f you cannot see them in the womb, it’s will bring to justice those that per- PASS GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION choice; but if you kill that child in the petrated this action and that we will be daylight, it’s murder. (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was stronger in the end as a Nation and f never forget those who were lost. given permission to address the House CONGRATULATING MIROSLABA f for 1 minute.) Ms. JACKSON LEE. Today, Mr. ‘‘LILI’’ VELO ON BEING NAMED BOSTON MARATHON ATTACK Speaker, the other body has an oppor- 2013 OUTSTANDING SENIOR HIGH (Ms. CHU asked and was given per- tunity to do what 90 percent of the SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR mission to address the House for 1 American people would like us to do— (Mr. SWALWELL of California asked minute.) to be prayerful and to come together to and was given permission to address Ms. CHU. Imagine what the front respond to the horrific siege of gun vio- the House for 1 minute and to revise page of The Boston Globe should have lence in America. and extend his remarks.) looked like yesterday: marathon win- It is important to note that, on aver- Mr. SWALWELL of California. Many ners jubilantly accepting medals; age, 13 young people from ages 10 to 24 students often remember that one en- throngs of people triumphantly cross- are victims of homicide every day, and gaging and empowering teacher who in- ing the finish line; bystanders passing 82.8 percent of these youth are killed spired them to change the course of out Gatorade; families and friends by a gun. Every 30 minutes a child or their lives. I am proud to recognize one cheering on loved ones. Instead, the teenager in America is injured by a of those teachers, Ms. Miroslaba ‘‘Lili’’ front page depicted a war zone. gun. Every 3 hours and 15 minutes a Velo, a social studies teacher from This vicious, senseless attack left child or a teenager loses their life from Hayward’s Tennyson High School in nearly 200 people injured, some criti- a firearm. In 2010, 82 children under the my congressional district. cally, and three dead. My heart breaks ages of 5 lost their lives due to guns. Ms. Velo was named the 2013 Out- for everyone affected, and justice must To put that number in perspective, 58 standing Senior High School Teacher be served. law enforcement lost their lives. of the Year by the California Council But even this dark act couldn’t blot And so today, we don’t have to vio- for Social Studies. As the chair of the out the examples of love, compassion, late the Second Amendment. As I said, Social Studies Department at Tenny- and selflessness on display. Volunteers we can be prayerful. We can pass uni- son High School, Ms. Velo is a true and officers raced to aid blast victims. versal background checks—the same leader in advancing social studies edu- Marathon runners continued running— thing we do with registering our cars, cation by teaching educators in her straight to the nearest hospital to do- getting licenses. This is a time for high school and across California how nate blood. And thousands of people America to rise to our higher angels to engage students with new and inno- opened their homes to athletes who and do what our children need them to vative teaching methods. This is some- had nowhere else to go. do. I ask the Senate to challenge its thing we will need as we continue to These are the stories that define us conscience and to vote for universal lead our students to be competitive in as a Nation. This is the spirit that no background checks to stop the vio- a changing global economy. terrorist attack will break. lence. Ms. Velo is a wonderful example of f f the most dedicated teachers from b 1210 across the Nation, who strive every day CHARLES C. GATES CENTER FOR to better the lives of their students and REGENERATIVE MEDICINE AND THE FINE LINE BETWEEN CHOICE assist the teachers around them. STEM CELL BIOLOGY AND MURDER Once again, I congratulate Ms. Velo (Mr. COFFMAN asked and was given (Mr. LANKFORD asked and was on receiving this well-deserved recogni- permission to address the House for 1 given permission to address the House tion.

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