Extensions of Remarks E3 EXTENSIONS of REMARKS
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January 5, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E3 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS CONGRATULATING THE COD STU- own farm stand, and was an active member of HONORING THE 165TH ANNIVER- DENTS ON WINNING THE DISTIN- the local 4–H club. Arthur’s curiosity about SARY OF SOLOMON NORTHUP’S GUISHED PROJECT MERIT horticulture and farming led him to attend Cor- FREEDOM AWARD FROM THE AMERICAN nell University to study agriculture. The active INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS lifestyle of Arthur’s youth has not diminished, HON. JOHN KATKO however. He continues to live a fruitful life, OF NEW YORK HON. PETER J. ROSKAM one of passion, excitement, and variety. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF ILLINOIS A man of family, community, and faith, Ar- thur was a Deacon and a Sunday School Friday, January 5, 2018 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES teacher for most of his adult life. Alongside his Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to Friday, January 5, 2018 wife, Esther, Arthur was also actively involved recognize the legacy of New York native Sol- Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to with missionary work to help strengthen com- omon Northup on Solomon Northup Freedom rise today to recognize students from the Col- munities and aid vulnerable populations Day. lege of DuPage. Recently, seven students re- throughout the country. Arthur’s legacy of 165 years ago, Solomon Northup was set ceived the Distinguished Project Merit Award dedicated service is a source of inspiration, in- free from his enslavement. Born a free man in from the American Institute of Architects for stilling the values of perseverance, confidence, New York, Mr. Northup made a living as a their work on a gathering pavilion. and civility in his community. farmer and as a professional violinist. Unlike The students, Andrew Dunlop, Arlinda Arthur’s zeal for life has made him a great many African American free men during this Haxhiu, Michael Keslinke, Jose Maldonado, role model for the people of Upstate New time period, Mr. Northup was a landowner in Drew Peterson, Malak Saadeh, and Scott York, and I am proud to be his Representative Hebron, New York. Sallmann, worked together to design, plan and in Congress. Mr. Speaker, I wish Mr. Arthur In 1841, Mr. Northup was offered the posi- build the gathering pavilion which is now lo- Koepp a very happy and healthy 100th birth- tion of violinist with a traveling circus. In cated on the College of DuPage campus in day. Washington, D.C. the very same men who Glen Ellyn. This student project was the over- f hired Mr. Northup drugged him, and sold him all focus of an eight week summer Design into the abhorrent institution that is slavery. Build class. The wooden open-air structure HONORING VICTOR B. WILLIAMS Mr. Northup was sent to Louisiana, and lived was named Umbra 82 by the students. It in captivity for 11 years, 8 months, and 26 takes the name Umbra from the darkest part HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ days. of the shadow and the number 82 from the OF FLORIDA During his horrific enslavement, Mr. Northup number of white boxes that make up the pavil- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES worked with a Canadian who helped get word to New York about his whereabouts. New ion. Friday, January 5, 2018 These seven students came from all corners York State provided aid to free New York citi- of DuPage County, and each member has a Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, zens who had been kidnapped and sold into strong passion for architecture. In a project I rise today to honor Special Agent Victor B. slavery. Mr. Northup’s family and friends did such as this, it was necessary that the mem- Williams, who after 34 years of service with not abandon hope. They sought the support of bers of the team work together and rely on the federal government, is retiring to inde- Washington Hunt, the Governor of New York, one another. The hard work and long hours pendently pursue his efforts to end human who helped Mr. Northup regain his freedom on spent planning, designing, and creating of this trafficking. the morning of January 4, 1853. project will prepare them for the rigors of an Victor began his career as a Petty Officer in No longer enslaved, Mr. Northup took little architectural career and serve them greatly in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he conducted time to rest after being freed from his captors. the future. The new pavilion will stand as a search and rescue/law enforcement missions Mr. Northup became a fierce abolitionist. He testament to the student’s dedication and cre- from 1982 until 1991. He then joined the U.S. began to lecture on his experience and appear ativity and serve the community for years to Customs Service, which later became the U.S. at anti-slavery conferences throughout the come. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As a northeast. His memoir, ‘‘Twelve Years A Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratu- special agent in ICE’s Homeland Security In- Slave,’’ recounted the horrors and injustices lating the students on winning the Distin- vestigations Unit, Victor participated in both that he faced, and received domestic and guished Project Merit Award from the Amer- domestic and international law enforcement in- international acclaim. ican Institute of Architects and wishing them vestigations dealing with a wide range of ac- Today, on Solomon Northup Freedom Day, the best of luck in the future. tivities, including terrorism, narcotics, money I am proud to join the cities of Saratoga f laundering, identity and benefit fraud, maritime Springs and Auburn in recognizing the story of smuggling operations, container security, and Solomon Northup. Central New York is such HONORING ARTHUR KOEPP’S 100TH human trafficking. an important part of the Abolitionist Movement. BIRTHDAY Victor’s experiences during these investiga- After escaping from slavery, Harriet Tubman tions triggered a lifelong determination to not lived in Auburn, New York until the day she HON. JOHN J. FASO only combat human trafficking, but also to died. Tubman fought her whole life for the OF NEW YORK educate law enforcement personnel and the eradication of slavery. Today, the Harriet Tub- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES public about the importance of victim-centered man National Historical Park in Auburn rep- approach. He has served and represented resents her legacy, and the importance of Friday, January 5, 2018 over 250 entities, including non-governmental human rights, gender equality, and ending rac- Mr. FASO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ex- organizations, churches, private organizations, ism. tend the happiest of birthday wishes to Mr. Ar- and law enforcement agencies at the federal, Solomon Northup Freedom Day also reaf- thur Koepp of Stephentown, New York who state, and local levels in his fight against the firms the necessity of eradicating modern-day will be celebrating his 100th Birthday on Janu- exploitation of people. slavery, human trafficking, and racial preju- ary 15, 2018. Arthur has lived a life character- Victor B. Williams is an extraordinary man dice. This January is National Human Traf- ized by hard work and an unyielding selfless- who has dedicated his life to serving others. I ficking Awareness month, and the United Na- ness, making him a pillar of his community. could not be prouder of the time and devotion tions estimates that more than 40 million men, From an early age, Arthur exhibited an out- he has given to his community and his coun- women, and children continue to be enslaved standing work ethic and a profound concern try. I am honored to recognize Victor today for globally. for others and the environment. As a boy, he his invaluable contributions to combat modern- Solomon Northup will be remembered for worked on his family’s 100-acre farm, ran his day slavery. his dedicated efforts to fight for those who ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:31 Jan 06, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A05JA8.001 E05JAPT1 E4 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 5, 2018 were vulnerable and did not have a voice. daughter, was walking home from a church rian Danielle McGuire entitled, ‘‘At the Dark May we honor his legacy each and every day service at Rock Hill Holiness Church with a End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and by following in his footsteps. friend. A car full of young white men pulled up, Resistance—a New History of the Civil Rights f and the men ordered Mrs. Taylor into the car Movement From Rosa Parks to the Rise of at gunpoint. She was then blindfolded, brutally Black Power.’’ RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF raped, and abandoned in the woods. The book prompted long-overdue apologies STEPHANIE MOGENSEN In the Jim Crow South, Mrs. Taylor and from the mayor of Abbeville, the county, and other black women who dared come forward a strongly worded apology from the state of HON. PETER J. ROSKAM were threatened, shamed, and harassed for Alabama in 2011. The resolution, introduced OF ILLINOIS speaking out. Despite being threatened by her by Rep. Dexter Grimsley in the state house IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES perpetrators and local law enforcement, Mrs. and Senator Billy Beasley in the state senate, Taylor decided to seek justice and tried to acknowledged, ‘‘the lack of prosecution for Friday, January 5, 2018 identify her rapists.