6068 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 155, Pt. 5 February 26, 2009 Sr., Pastor of Capitol City SDA Church to give liam Lawson, MD, Ph.D., Dr. Shirley Marks, Finally singled out for special praise was the the invocation. MD, MPH, Dr. Lorraine Blackman, Ph.D., Association of the 2221 Negro Volunteers of Throughout the morning session more than LCSW, Dr. Cedric Bright, MD, Dr. Reginald World War II, who served in white Army infan- 250 people were on hand as we paid special Wilson, Ph.D., Dr. Beverly Coleman Miller, try units during and after the Battle of Bulge. tribute to the courageous African American MD, Dr. Donna Holland Barnes, Ph.D., Dr. Afterward the private reception and awards men and increasingly women of the military Cheryl Royster Branker, Ed.D., Judge Robert ceremony was opened to the general public who dedicate their lives to preserving our pre- Russell, Jr., Haywood Fennel, Sr., Sidney Lee, for a party with entertainment provided by Tori cious freedom and continuing way of life. Our Maceo May, Amy Fairweather, Col. Ann Robinson of Paris and Recording Artist Betty special guest, Emmy award nominee Actor Wright, USA, Ret., Sgt Natasha McKinnon & Wright. John Amos, called the honor roll of black mili- Jason Lindsay, disabled Iraqi veterans & stu- My special thanks go to Roslyn Burrough, tary units from the segregated World War II dents at North Carolina State University; SFC Anthony Hawkins, Mae Campbell, Forest Far- and Korean War eras to the integrated Viet- Vontella Fludd, USA, Ret., Two Tour Iraqi vet- ley, Jr., Dr. Frank Smith, Jr., Brigadier General nam, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq wars. eran and mother of two accompanied by First Robert Cocroft, Joe Wynn, Jack Evans, Dr. Remembering their selfless service and sac- Sgt. Ronnie Robinson, USA, Ret. and Local Vince Patton III, Belinda Foster, Dr. Martel rifice to national defense throughout the entire Union Vice President, American Federation of Teasley, Dr. Michael Kane, Dr. Cheryl Royster 20th century, and returning home to join the Government Employees, along with committee Branker, Karen Freeman Wilson, Carmen Wil- fight for equal rights. staff members to address a lengthy list of son II, Lucretia McClenney, Thomas Harris, Most importantly, we focused on the long black veterans issues and concerns. Pastor Leon Bryant, Sr., Maceo May, Jason legacy of service of those who undertake the Additionally, special invitations were ex- Young, Clarence Slaughter, Jean Davis, David armed defense of the scared principles of the tended to the major veterans’ service organi- Thompson, Maj. Myles Caggins, USA, Tonya Constitution, Declaration of Independence and zations to enhance ways of building closer re- Collins, Medgar Evers College and Congres- Bill of Rights that all men (and now women) lationships between them and minority vet- sional staff members Emile Milne, Kenya are created equal, have thus earned the right erans. Further, the VA provided us with case Handy, Holly Biglow, Kiwanis Harvey Styles, of every African American full citizenship workers who were present to respond to ques- Roshan Hodge, Lee Footer, Alexandra Ward, through honorable military service, and as Dr. tions from individuals in the audience. Sonya Passi, Jonathan Halpern, Edwin W.E.B. DuBois said in 1906, for ‘‘all true The roundtable discussion opened with brief Larkins, Tony Buckles and Malcolm Shorter. Americans.’’ Thus Congress, the Executive presentations on PTSD and other health re- May God continue to Bless America, and Branch, states, commonwealths, territories, lated issues such as VA health disparities, dis- thank all veterans for their service. counties, municipalities and communities ability benefits difficulties, employment con- f across the land ought to be deeply indebted to cerns and/or discrimination, post secondary these all too often forgotten warriors who education challenges and other issues of par- 48TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE fought the most bitter of ironies in America’s ticular interest to black veterans. The outcome PEACE CORPS history: for democratic ideals abroad while the product was a video recording of the session, practice of racial discrimination persisted at which in turn will be transcribed in order to HON. NICK J. RAHALL II home. But as the historic inauguration of produce a document, or written report for OF WEST VIRGINIA President Barack Obama proves, their hope, presentation back to Reps. BISHOP, JR. (D– IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES faith and loyalty have been vindicated. GA), and RANGEL (D–NY) of the Veterans Thursday, February 26, 2009 Seated on the dais were Anthony Brown, Lt. Braintrust, the House Veterans’ Affairs Com- Governor from the state of Maryland, highest mittee, Democratic leaders in the House, the Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I rise today ranking black elected state official to serve in Department of Veterans Affairs, and others to recognize the 48th Anniversary of the Iraq; Hon. SANFORD BISHOP, JR. (D–GA), recommending ways to address the unique Peace Corps and in doing so, join many oth- Member of the House Appropriations Sub- needs of both Iraqi & Afghanistan returning ers around the nation in celebrating National committee on Military Construction and Vet- soldiers, and their families, as well as African Peace Corps Week. Their mission is to help erans Affairs and I, Senior Member of the American, or black veterans and provide the people of interested countries in meeting House Veterans Affairs Committee, Co-Chair thoughtful proposals for legislation. their need for trained men and women while of the Congressional Black Caucus Founda- Later that evening I hosted the 20th anniver- helping to promote a better understanding of tion 38th Annual Legislative Conference and sary gala reception and awards ceremony at Americans on the part of the peoples served, Veterans Braintrust Co-Convener; keynote the Washington Grand Hyatt Hotel. Among as well as, a better understanding of other speaker Secretary James Peake, MD, Depart- those publicly recognized and acknowledged peoples on the part of Americans. ment of Veterans Affairs; Rev. Dr. James on this special occasion were Judge Robert Since the establishment of the Peace Corps Forbes, Jr., President & Founder of the Heal- Russell, Jr. who was presented the Citizens by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, more ing of the Nations Foundation of New York; Beneficiary Award by the Mike Handy Founda- than 195,000 U.S. citizens have served their special guest of honor Actor John Amos, Hon- tion and Fund, for his unique Buffalo Veterans country in the cause of peace by living and orary Master Chief of the USCG and Navy, Court Treatment Program in the state of New working in 139 countries throughout the world. and New Jersey National Guardsman (best York along with the U.S. Army Freedom Team As of September 30, 2008, 7,876 Peace known for his role as Kunta Kinte on the hit Salute recognizing Frederick Gray, President Corps Volunteers are making significant and CBS miniseries Roots, and NBC’s Emmy of the Black Iwo Jima Veterans Group; Brig. lasting contributions to improve the lives of in- award winning hit series, The West Wing, as Gen. Robert Cocroft, President and CEO of dividuals and communities in 76 countries. Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, Chairman, Joint the Center for Veterans Issues; and Joseph I am proud to say that three of those volun- Chiefs of Staff); Hon. Louis Stokes (D-OH) Stevenson, a World War II veteran. teers currently serving their country are from Retired Congressman and Past Chairman of Other 2008 Braintrust awardees included: my district in West Virginia. Both Ashley M. the Appropriations Subcommittee on VA, HUD Actor John Amos, Sgt. Nathaniel Bass, USA, Hess (Burkina Faso) and Garrett C. and Independent Agencies, Past Chairman of Ret., Asa Gordon, Dr. Richard Danford, Jr., Prendergast (Mongolia) will finish up their two the Congressional Black Caucus Health Ph.D., Dr. Edward Brown, Dr. Vincent Patton years’ of service in August of 2010, while Braintrust and WWII veteran, and Dr. Roscoe III, Maj. Gen. Rosetta Burke, NYANG, Ret., Stephanie D. Zorio will finish up her two years’ Brown, an original Tuskegee Airman and Con- Thomas Jones, Sr., Christopher Moore, Dr. of service in the Philippines in November of gressional Gold Medal Recipient. Charles Simmons, Howard Wright, Thomas 2010. The afternoon session consisted of a unique Yarosz, Halley’s Comet Foundation, Associa- Peace Corps volunteers have made signifi- Stakeholders Roundtable Discussion on Vet- tion for the Study of African American Life and cant and lasting contributions around the world erans’ Issues supported by the Hon. BOB FIL- History, Tubman African American Museum, in agriculture, business development, informa- NER (D–CA), Chairman of the House Veterans Smithsonian’s National Museum for African tion technology, education, health and HIV/ Affairs Committee and his senior committee American History and Culture, Parting Ways AIDS, youth and the environment. staff. The roundtable was moderated by Dr. Historical Site, Sankofa Restoration Project, The 195,000 citizens, who have volunteered William King, and featured the following sub- Myrl Billings Memorial Veterans Center, and to serve their country since 1961, came from ject matter experts and discussants: Dr. Wil- Doubleback Productions. all walks of life and represent the best of what

VerDate Mar 15 2010 14:27 Jun 29, 2011 Jkt 079102 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR09\E26FE9.001 E26FE9 wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with BOUND RECORD February 26, 2009 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 155, Pt. 5 6069 the United States has to offer. The work they istrators and faculty in various Southeast THE FEDERAL RESERVE have done over the past 47 years has played Queens high schools to identify and honor TRANSPARENCY ACT an important role in developing nations and worthy students. It has been my privilege to continues to provide opportunities for people award the following students with Congres- HON. RON PAUL of different backgrounds to come together to sional Achievement Awards: OF TEXAS serve the cause of peace. Andrew Sargeant of Business, Computer IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES f Applications & Entrepreneurship Magnet High Thursday, February 26, 2009 School SUPPORTING THE MEDAL OF Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, I rise to intro- HONOR COMMEMORATIVE COIN Brian Herb of Queens High School for the duce the Federal Reserve Transparency Act. ACT OF 2009– Sciences at York College Throughout its nearly 100-year history, the Chandraika Niranjan of Math, Science Re- Federal Reserve has presided over the near- HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK search & Technology Magnet High School complete destruction of the United States dol- OF ILLINOIS Clevelyn Murray of Humanities & the Arts lar. Since 1913 the dollar has lost over 95% IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES High School of its purchasing power, aided and abetted by the Federal Reserve’s loose monetary policy. Thursday, February 26, 2009 Deborah Hector of Humanities & the Arts High School How long will we as a Congress stand idly by Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I am proud to Dookumarie Persaud of Jamaica High while hard-working Americans see their sav- join my good friend Congressman CHRIS CAR- School ings eaten away by inflation? Only big-spend- NEY as an original cosponsor of the Congres- ing politicians and politically favored bankers sional Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Kevin Thom of Humanities & the Arts High benefit from inflation. Act of 2009. This bipartisan legislation will as- School Serious discussion of proposals to oversee sist the Congressional Medal of Honor Foun- LeeAnn Anderson of Queens High School the Federal Reserve is long overdue. I have dation in raising the funds it needs to promote Mariama Donzo of Hillcrest High School been a longtime proponent of more effective heroism and selflessness among our nation’s Marquise Moore of Business, Computer Ap- oversight and auditing of the Fed, but I was youth—qualities which the Medal of Honor plications & Entrepreneurship Magnet High far from the first Congressman to advocate embodies. School these types of proposals. Esteemed former First authorized by Congress in 1861, the members of the Banking Committee such as Miriam Gonzalez of Hillcrest High School Congressional Medal of Honor is our nation’s Chairmen Wright Patman and Henry B. highest award for valor in action against an Oniyebiyi Hinton of Humanities & the Arts Gonzales were outspoken critics of the Fed enemy force. It is a symbol of how ordinary High School and its lack of transparency. Americans can risk their lives and go above Peter Brown of Math, Science Research & Since its inception, the Federal Reserve has and beyond the call of duty in defense of our Technology Magnet High School always operated in the shadows, without suffi- great nation. Philipnary Thuyamany of Jamaica High cient scrutiny or oversight of its operations. Since its inception, fewer than 3,500 Medals School While the conventional excuse is that this is of Honor have been awarded to members of Reaz Khan of Jamaica High School intended to reduce the Fed’s susceptibility to the United States Armed Forces—approxi- political pressures, the reality is that the Fed Robin Singh of Queens High School for the mately half during the Civil War. Today, there acts as a foil for the government. Whenever Sciences at York College are only 111 living recipients. These select you question the Fed about the strength of the few exemplify the values of our great nation Shannon Gordon of Humanities and the Arts dollar, they will refer you to the Treasury, and through their incredible acts of bravery and High School vice versa. The Federal Reserve has, on the commitment to our country. Shelly Lekhraj of Business, Computer Appli- one hand, many of the privileges of govern- As the first U.S. Representative-reservist to cations & Entrepreneurship Magnet High ment agencies, while retaining benefits of pri- be deployed to an imminent danger area since School vate organizations, such as being insulated World War II, I know first hand the sacrifices Tracy Ganga of Jamaica High School from Freedom of Information Act requests. and challenges our men and women in armed Tracy Mangal of Hillcrest High School The Federal Reserve can enter into agree- forces face. It was an honor to serve with uni- ments with foreign central banks and foreign Zora Jiles of Jamaica High School formed Americans in Afghanistan and it is in governments, and the GAO is prohibited from their honor that I join Mr. CARNEY in intro- Through their strong commitment to aca- auditing or even seeing these agreements. ducing this legislation today. demic excellence and community service, Why should a government-established agency, these high school students have established f whose police force has federal law enforce- themselves as peer role models amongst their ment powers, and whose notes have legal EXEMPLARY STUDENT classmates. I am proud to have such stellar tender status in this country, be allowed to ACHIEVEMENT AWARD students emerging within the Southeast enter into agreements with foreign powers and Queens community. I encourage them all to foreign banking institutions with no oversight? HON. GREGORY W. MEEKS continue their academic studies and social de- Particularly when hundreds of billions of dol- velopment at a higher education institution. I OF NEW YORK lars of currency swaps have been announced look to them to continue representing the high IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and implemented, the Fed’s negotiations with standards that our district’s families, schools, the European Central Bank, the Bank of Inter- Thursday, February 26, 2009 and community organizations promote. The national Settlements, and other institutions Mr. MEEKS of New York. Madam Speaker, people of Southeast Queens look to these should face increased scrutiny, most espe- There are wonderful examples of academic youth to utilize their academic knowledge, cially because of their significant effect on for- achievement and community service taking practical skills, and social networks to eign policy. If the State Department were able place in Southeast Queens high schools. strengthen our community’s cultural, civic, to do this, it would be characterized as a Many students throughout the New York Con- business, and political institutions. rogue agency and brought to heel, and if a pri- gressional 6th District are performing at such It takes a village to raise a child, so it is im- vate individual did this he might face prosecu- a high level in their academic work and com- portant that I also recognize the family mem- tion under the Logan Act, yet the Fed avoids munity activities that it deserves public rec- bers, guardians, teachers, administrators, both fates. ognition. I have been so inspired that I initi- counselors, coaches, and mentors who have More importantly, the Fed’s funding facilities ated the Exemplary Student Achievement provided these students with the guidance and and its agreements with the Treasury should (ESA) award program to honor these young resources making it possible for them to blos- be reviewed. The Treasury’s supplementary fi- citizens who are emerging as our community’s som into exemplary young leaders. I thank all nancing accounts that fund Fed facilities allow future leaders. of these individuals for their dedication and the Treasury to funnel money to Wall Street Since the inception of the ESA program in contributions to our youth and our commu- without GAO or Congressional oversight. Addi- September 2008, I have partnered with admin- nity’s future. tional funding facilities, such as the Primary

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