E146 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks February 14, 2013 Horne created a legacy by not only enter- ligence to fight racial discrimination. I urge my Lessenden. Alan is a very special young man taining Americans for over 60 years, but by colleagues to support the Lena Horne recogni- who has exemplified the finest qualities of citi- breaking many racial barriers as a singer, tion Act, in order to honor her life and legacy zenship and leadership by taking an active dancer, and actress. Ms. Horne passed away with a Congressional Gold Medal. part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 351, in New York City on May 9, 2010 at the age f and earning the most prestigious award of of 92. Eagle Scout. Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was born on PERSONAL EXPLANATION Alan has been very active with his troop, June 30, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York. Her participating in many scout activities. Over the path to international stardom began in Har- HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO many years Alan has been involved with lem’s Cotton Club, where she was first hired OF OREGON scouting, he has not only earned numerous as a chorus dancer at the age of 16. From IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES merit badges, but also the respect of his fam- there, her career continued in Charlie Barney’s Thursday, February 14, 2013 ily, peers, and community. Most notably, Alan jazz band, where she became one of the first has contributed to his community through his African-American women to tour with an all Mr. DEFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately I Eagle Scout project. white band, to Hollywood and Broadway. was unable to record my vote on H.R. 267, Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in In the 1940s, Ms. Horne was discovered by the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act. I commending Alan P. Lessenden for his ac- a Metro Gold Mayer talent scout and moved to was detained by a very important meeting with complishments with the Boy Scouts of Amer- Hollywood to be an actress. She was the first Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber about issues ica and for his efforts put forth in achieving the black artist to sign a long-term contract with a critical to my rural communities and State. highest distinction of Eagle Scout. major studio. Despite her beauty and talent, I am a strong supporter of renewable en- f ergy and agree there’s enormous untapped however, she was limited to minor acting roles HONORING JANICE ATKINSON, because of her race. She was passed over for potential for hydropower. Reducing red tape, process, and cost to approve small, non-con- COUNTY CLERK-RECORDER AS- the role of Julie in the movie Show Boat be- SESSOR REGISTRAR OF VOTERS cause the studio did not want the film to star troversial hydropower projects is a no-brainer. a black actress, and the Motion Picture Code I am pleased the bill passed 422–0 and would did not allow the depiction of interracial rela- have voted ‘‘yea’’ had I been available. I look HON. MIKE THOMPSON OF CALIFORNIA tionships. Nonetheless, she dazzled audiences forward to supporting H.R. 267 in the future if IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and critics in a number of films, including the bill is amended and comes back to the Cabin in the Sky and Stormy Weather. House from the Senate. Thursday, February 14, 2013 The struggle for equal and fair treatment f Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, was an inseparable and increasingly political NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVER- I rise today, along with my colleague JARED part of Ms. Horne’s life. During WWII, she SITY—REMEMBERING THOSE HUFFMAN, to recognize Janice Atkinson, who toured extensively with the United Service Or- LOST ON FEBRUARY 14, 2008 is retiring as county clerk-recorder assessor ganizations on the West Coast and in the and registrar of voters. South in support of the troops. Ms. Horne was Jancie Atkinson is a third generation outspoken in her criticism of the way black HON. BILL FOSTER Sonoma County native and comes from a long soldiers were treated. She refused to sing for OF ILLINOIS line of public servants. She began her public segregated audiences or to groups where IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES service career in election administration in German prisoners of war were seated in front Thursday, February 14, 2013 1972 with the Registrar of Voters Division of of the African-American servicemen. Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, it is with a the County Clerk’s Office. She worked her During the period of McCarthyism in the heavy heart that I rise today to ask the House way up through the division, was appointed di- 1950s, Ms. Horne was blacklisted as a com- to observe a moment of silence for the trag- vision chief in 1979 and assumed the position munist for seven years due to her civil rights edy that occurred at Northern Illinois Univer- of assistant department head in 1995. She activism and her friendships with Paul Robe- sity five years ago. On February 14, 2008, we was elected to the position of County Clerk- son and W.E.B. DuBois. Despite facing contin- lost five very bright and energetic young stu- Recorder Assessor of the County of Sonoma ued discrimination, Ms. Horne’s career flour- dents—students who had hoped to one day on June 6, 2006, and assumed office on Janu- ished in television and onstage throughout the become the future of our nation. ary 8, 2007. country. It was during this time that she also Each year since that tragic day, members of Ms. Atkinson’s primary area of expertise is established herself as a major recording artist. the community gather to remember those stu- in the field of election administration. As As- In 1957, she recorded Lena Horne at the Wal- dents and to present the memorial wreathes. sistant Registrar of Voters, she headed the di- dorf Astoria, which reached the Top 10 and Gayle Dubowski, Catalina Garcia, Julianna vision responsible for the conduct of all elec- became the best selling album by a female Gehant, Ryanne Mace, and Daniel Parmenter tions in Sonoma County including city, school singer in RCA Victor’s history. will never be forgotten, for they will always be and special district elections. The division Ms. Horne used her talent and fame to be- in our hearts. Their memories will live on maintains the files of approximately 600 elect- come a powerful voice for civil rights and through their family and friends, as well as ed officials, 249,554 registered voters and the equality. In 1963, she participated in the his- Northern Illinois University. boundaries of all political subdivisions in the toric March on Washington for Jobs and Free- ‘‘Forward, Together Forward,’’ three simple County. dom. She also performed at rallies throughout words that stem from the University’s Fight Under Ms. Atkinson’s leadership, Sonoma the country for the National Council for Negro Song, teach us a lesson that we can all learn County removed barriers to participation in the Women and worked with the National Associa- from. It reminds us that even in the darkest of democratic process by administering a highly tion for the Advancement of Colored People situations, when all seems lost, if we come to- successful vote-by-mail program. In November (NAACP). gether as a community there is nothing that 2006, Sonoma County’s voter turnout of 75.49 Ms. Horne finally received the break she we cannot get through. It gives us the strength percent exceeded the statewide average turn- had been waiting for her in 1981, which was and motivation to move forward. out by almost 20 percent. Sonoma County’s a one woman Broadway show. Lena Horne: Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me high voter turnout can be attributed to the high The Lady and Her Music, was the culmination in remembering those lost and to support all number of permanent absentee voters in the of her triumphs and struggles. The show en- who were affected by this tragedy. County (roughly 52 percent of the registered voters) and the efforts of the department to joyed a 14-month run and earned her a Tony f Award and two Grammy Awards. keep the voter files up-to-date. Ms. Atkinson Furthermore, she received two stars on the HONORING ALAN P. LESSENDEN implemented an accessible voting system for Hollywood Walk of Fame for her work in both voters with disabilities, all while maintaining motion pictures and recordings, as well as a HON. SAM GRAVES paper-based voting systems, assuring voter footprint on the International Civil Rights Walk OF MISSOURI confidence in elections. of Fame at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ms. Aktinson was an active member in the Historic Site. California Association of Clerks and Election Mr. Speaker, Lena Horne was an extraor- Thursday, February 14, 2013 Official from 1976–2012. She served on the dinary woman who refused to give up her Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I board of directors from 2002–2012, as Cor- dreams and used her beauty, talent, and intel- proudly pause to recognize Alan P. respondence Secretary from 1988–2011 and

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:55 Feb 15, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A14FE8.005 E14FEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS February 14, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E147 as a member of the County Recorder’s Asso- This weekend, tens of thousands of peo- performed by contract guards—which has cost ciation of California from 2001–2012. She also ple—including 100 buses from over 30 of over $41 million—with an effective tool to was a member of the California Assessors’ states—will be traveling to Washington, DC to implement risk assessment. As an interim Association from 2007–2012 and the Bay Area participate in Sunday’s Forward on Climate step, FPS has since developed the Modified Assessor’s Association 2007–2012, serving as Rally to demonstrate their support for action Infrastructure Survey Too, MIST. its president in 2010. She has been a member on climate change. Since May 2007, the Committee on Home- of the Sonoma County Historical Records My home state of Maryland knows all too land Security has held five oversight hearings Commission since 2000 and is recognized well the devastating effects of extreme weath- of FPS. Additionally, since 2008, GAO has throughout the state for her knowledge of the er events, and the threat that coastal flooding issued seven oversight reports, at my request, California Elections Code and voting proce- and sea level rise present to our coastal com- on the agency that identified a wide range of dures. munities. In that regard, I’m proud that Mary- challenges FPS faces in protecting Federal fa- Ms. Atkinson is a longtime supporter of the land is tackling this issue head on by commit- cilities. Among the areas for reform identified Cloverdale Boys and Girls Club and served as ting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by in these reports are the need for increased the lead public information officer for Sonoma 25 percent below 2006 levels by 2020. In ad- oversight of the contract guard program; the County during disasters, providing vital infor- dition to restoring a healthy climate, this initia- need for FPS to implement a risk manage- mation to those impacted by floods, mudslides tive will boost economic growth, create jobs ment strategy to improve facility security; en- and fires. and save consumers money. hanced schedule and cost estimating practices Mr. Speaker, Janice Atkinson has a long Mr. Speaker, I welcome the Forward on Cli- to facilitate the transition of management func- and distinguished career in service to Sonoma mate Rally to the nation’s capital, and I stand tions; and a comprehensive approach to County and it is therefore appropriate that we with concerned citizens from across the coun- human capital management. acknowledge her today and wish her well in try who say the time is now to address climate The legislation I am reintroducing today: (1) her retirement. change. seeks to increase security at Federal facilities f f by adding 500 more Federal Law Enforcement Officers; (2) directs FPS to intensify its moni- CONGRATULATING THE INTER- INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION toring of contract guards; (3) requires national MOUNTAIN JEWISH NEWS ON ITS TO REFORM THE FEDERAL PRO- minimum standards for the training and certifi- 100TH YEAR TECTIVE SERVICE cation of contract guard staff; (4) requires that security standards for Federal facilities estab- HON. CORY GARDNER HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON lished by the Interagency Security Committee OF COLORADO OF MISSISSIPPI be implemented; (5) directs FPS to conduct a IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1-year pilot program to assess whether a Fed- eral Security Guard that is a Federal em- Thursday, February 14, 2013 Thursday, February 14, 2013 ployee would do a better job protecting the Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speak- highest risk Federal facilities than a contract congratulate the Intermountain Jewish News er, today I am introducing legislation to im- guard; (6) requires a law enforcement pres- on its 100th year of continuous publication. prove the level of security provided by the ence at the highest risk Federal facilities; and The Intermountain Jewish News has served Federal Protective Service, FPS. (7) directs the Government Accountability Of- as an important conduit of information for peo- Formed in 1971 as the uniformed protection fice to investigate the adequacy of the fee- ple of the Jewish faith across the Rocky service for the General Service Administration, based funding system utilized by FPS and de- Mountain West. With insightful reporting and a GSA, the Federal Protective Service’s mission termine whether it prevents the agency from keen eye to the stories that matter most to its is to safeguard the Federal buildings that fully executing its security mission. readers, it has provided the Jewish community Americans access every day across the coun- Under my legislation, the FPS’ inspector with relevant news and a constant connection try. FPS is charged with protecting over 9,000 corps would be increased to 1,350, thereby to the community. Federal facilities, including many of our own elevating the Federal law enforcement pres- Freedom of the press and freedom of reli- Congressional district offices. ence inside Federal buildings by offering gion are two of the pillars that have made the Since FPS was transferred to the Depart- ‘‘boots on the ground’’ security expertise. United States the beacon of light across the ment of Homeland Security in 2003, a series I strongly believe that a more robust inspec- world. The Intermountain Jewish News is of government audits have uncovered major tor workforce would, for the first time, provide more than just the product of these freedoms; breaches in the security services FPS pro- FPS with a core of specialized security per- it is the medium through which these free- vides and attributed these lapses, in large sonnel with the training and authority required doms live on today. part, to slipshod oversight by the agency of its to create long-overdue change within the en- I applaud the hard work and dedication of contractor workforce. tire organization. all who have contributed to this publication’s One glaring example of FPS’s lapses in pro- My legislation also calls for dedicated con- success over the past 100 years and I wish viding security occurred in February 2011 tract oversight staff to oversee the perform- them continued success in the future. when contract guards failed to detect explo- ance of contract guards; this would allow FPS f sive material that was left undetected inside inspectors focus on their security and law en- the Patrick V. McNamara Federal building in forcement duties and not be bogged down in IN SUPPORT OF THE FORWARD ON Detroit for 21 days. contract-management concerns. CLIMATE RALLY FEBRUARY 14, Testifying on July 13, 2011 about this inci- Similarly, my legislation would require a law 2013 dent before the Committee on Homeland Se- enforcement presence at the highest risk Fed- curity, the Government Accountability Office, eral facilities, which directly addresses a gap HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN GAO, stated that FPS needs to undertake a in the current system, where contract guards, OF MARYLAND stronger role in overseeing contractor perform- who lack arrest authority are charged with pro- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ance, to reevaluate its hiring and training prac- tecting high-profile Federal facilities. tices for contract guards, and to implement a I introduced similar legislation in the 111th Thursday, February 14, 2013 comprehensive risk assessment strategy. and 112th Congresses to ensure that the Fed- Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to On July 24, 2012, at a subsequent Com- eral Protective Service fulfills its responsibility join President Obama and concerned citizens mittee on Homeland Security hearing, FPS’s to coordinate infrastructure protection across around the world to say it is high time we lack of a comprehensive risk management the Federal government, and to make certain move forward on addressing climate change. strategy was identified as a major obstacle to that effective management procedures are im- As President Obama said in his State of the FPS’ ability to safeguard Federal facilities and plemented to hold contractors accountable for Union address: ‘‘We can choose to believe effectively serve as the lead agency charged the hiring, training and certification of security that Superstorm Sandy, and the most severe with coordinating infrastructure protection gov- guards who are charged with protecting Fed- drought in decades, and the worst wildfires ernment-wide. eral facilities. some states have ever seen were all just a Both hearings addressed the Federal Pro- It has been 18 years since the Alfred P. freak coincidence. Or we can choose to be- tective Service’s pressing need to replace the Murrah building was attacked in Oklahoma lieve in the overwhelming judgment of failed Risk Assessment and Management Pro- City. We have been fortunate that an attack of science—and act before it’s too late. ‘‘ gram, RAMP, to monitor the hours and duties this magnitude has not occurred against a

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