11844 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 154, Pt. 9 June 9, 2008 is a sweeter place now that Bo Diddley is on the subject of underpayment, bad contracts roads and highways, and in homes and com- there. And, the angels are surely singing. and other rip-offs that denied many early rock munities; Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to and rollers (he among them) what was due Whereas since the summer season is a time draw attention to the life and legacy of a man of increased rates of preventable injuries and them and in 1987 he was inducted into the death, it is an appropriate time to focus the whose work in Rock ’n’ Roll has been called Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame. attention of our workforce and community ‘‘ground breaking.’’ Bo Diddley was born Ellas A regular at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre, Bo leaders on injury risks and preventions by Otha Bates in McComb, Mississippi, on De- Diddley has indelibly stamped his mark on celebrating June 2008 as ‘‘National Safety cember 30, 1928 and passed away on June 2, rhythm and blues, rock ’n’ roll and popular Month’’; and 2008 at the age of 79. music. His innovative trademark rhythm, his Whereas the National Safety Council in Diddley was raised by his mother’s cousin, electric custom built cigar box guitar, and his 2008 as part of its public education about Gussie McDaniel, whose surname he legally wild stage shows predate all others. Diddley safety and health will provide this Nation a adopted. The family moved to Chicago when monthlong campaign in June with the theme leaves a permanent mark on American music ‘‘Make a Difference’’: Now, therefore, be it Diddley was seven. Bo broke new ground in and culture, and our deepest sympathies go Resolved, That the United States House of rock and roll’s formative years with his unique out to his family, friends and fans. The ’Bo Representatives— guitar work, indelible African rhythms, inven- Diddley beat’ surely will continue on. (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National tive songwriting, and larger-than-life persona. Mr. KING of Iowa. I urge adoption, Safety Month’’; He will forever be known for popularizing one and I yield back the balance of my (2) recognizes the contributions of the Na- of the foundational rhythms of rock and roll: time. tional Safety Council and its ongoing com- the Bo Diddley beat. He employed it in his Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Mr. mitment to raising awareness about the need for the implementation of safe practices in namesake song, ‘‘Bo Diddley’’ (which earned Speaker, I urge adoption of H. Res. 1251 our schools and jobs; and him a rightful place in the Grammy Hall Of and yield back the balance of my time. (3) encourages citizens to observe the ‘‘Na- Fame). This African-based rhythm pattern was The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. tional Safety Month’’ with appropriate cere- picked up from Diddley by other artists and SIRES). The question is on the motion monies and educate themselves about the has been a distinctive and recurring element offered by the gentlewoman from Cali- importance of implementing safe practices in rock and roll through the decades. His fornia (Ms. ZOE LOFGREN) that the in our schools and on our jobs to prevent un- beats have influenced the music of artists House suspend the rules and agree to intentional injury and death. such as Buddy Holly, the Rolling Stones, the resolution, H. Res. 1251. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Johnny Otis, the Strangeloves, the Who, and The question was taken; and (two- ant to the rule, gentleman from Ken- Bruce Springsteen. thirds being in the affirmative) the tucky (Mr. YARMUTH) and the gen- Diddley is the author of a body of songs— rules were suspended and the resolu- tleman from New York (Mr. KUHL) each including ‘‘Who Do You Love?’’ ‘‘Road Run- tion was agreed to. will control 20 minutes. The Chair rec- ner,’’ ‘‘Mona,’’ ‘‘Before You Accuse Me’’ and A motion to reconsider was laid on ognizes the gentleman from Kentucky. ‘‘I’m a Man’’—that are among the earliest ex- the table. GENERAL LEAVE Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I re- amples of rock and roll rising out of rhythm f and blues. Diddley married into his music two quest 5 legislative days during which worlds he knew well—the Deep South and the NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH Members may revise and extend and in- streets of Chicago. He formed a band called Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I move sert extraneous material on H. Res. the Hipsters while in high school and landed to suspend the rules and agree to the 1225 into the RECORD. a regular spot at the 708 Club on Chicago’s resolution (H. Res. 1225) expressing sup- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there South Side in 1951. port for designation of June 2008 as objection to the request of the gen- Diddley’s earliest records were contempora- ‘‘National Safety Month’’. tleman from Kentucky? neous with those of label mate Chuck Berry. There was no objection. The Clerk read the title of the resolu- Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield He signed with the Checkers label in 1955 tion. myself as much time as I may con- and his debut single was a two-sided classic The text of the resolution is as fol- sume. that paired ‘‘Bo Diddley’’ with ‘‘I’m a Man.’’ It lows: Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support was the first in a string of groundbreaking H. RES. 1225 of H. Res. 1225, which recognizes the songs that walked the fine line between Whereas, after years of decline, the rate of month of June as National Safety rhythm & blues and rock & roll. Others in- unintentional injuries and deaths in the Month and commends the National cluded ‘‘Diddley Daddy,’’ ‘‘Pretty Thing’’ and United States has risen to new and unaccept- Safety Council for their ongoing mis- ‘‘Road Runner,’’ which were all Top Twenty able levels; sion to educate and influence the pub- R&B hits. Oddly, Diddley’s only crossover suc- Whereas deaths from motor vehicle colli- lic on the prevention of accidental in- sions, poisonings from unintentional cess came with ‘‘Say Man,’’ a laugh-filled ex- jury and death. change of jive talk between Diddley and his overdoses, and falls remain as the three lead- ing causes of preventable death in the United In 1912 the National Safety Council maraca player, Jerome Green. Their verbal States; was established by a small group of sparring derived from the African-American Whereas the cost of unintentional injuries midwestern industrial leaders con- pastime of ‘‘signifying’ or ‘‘doing the dozens’’ to Americans exceeds $650,000,000,000 each cerned about safety in the workplace. and foreshadowed the battle rapping of the year and causes great suffering among indi- Since then, the council has broadened present day. viduals and their families; its scope to include the home, trans- Diddley was also an inventor, devising his Whereas the cost of unintentional injuries portation and the community. Its own tremolo effect and playing a unique, rec- to workers and their employers is membership has grown to over 18,000 tangular ‘‘cigar box’’ guitar that he designed in $164,700,000,000 each year, including the value companies spanning more than 33,000 1958. His ever-fertile mind also inspired him to of 120,000,000 days of lost productivity; Whereas preventing unintentional injury locations. Altogether, the council rep- set up one of the first home studios. The pro- and death requires the cooperation of all lev- resents 8.3 million employees across lific singer/guitarist released a string of albums els of government, the Nation’s employers, the Nation. whose titles—including Bo Diddley Is a and the general public; In 1953, a congressional charter was Gunslinger and Have Guitar, Will Travel—bol- Whereas the National Safety Council, granted to the National Safety Council stered his self-invented legend. founded in 1913, was congressionally char- to lead the country in injury preven- Diddley also traveled with the rock and roll tered in 1953 to lead this Nation in injury tion through safety education and revues of the day. He retained his iconic sta- prevention through safety and health edu- training. The council has had a great tus as a rock and roll pioneer, steadily releas- cation, training, and advocacy in the United impact on the local level by providing States; ing albums on Checkers through the mid-Sev- Whereas the National Safety Council edu- a variety of community-based pro- enties. Meanwhile, Diddley continued to work cates the workforce about policies, practices, grams and services, including work- the live circuit in tireless fashion. and procedures leading to increased safety, shops, training, conferences, and by Bo Diddley was one of rock ’n’ roll’s true protection, and health in business and indus- providing a local voice for safety and pioneers. He has been righteously outspoken try, as well as in schools and colleges, on health education. VerDate Mar 15 2010 12:01 Jan 21, 2011 Jkt 069102 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR08\H09JN8.000 H09JN8 WReier-Aviles on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BOUND RECORD June 9, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 154, Pt. 9 11845 Through the efforts of the National resenting 33,300 locations and about 8.5 right now that the price of gasoline Safety Council, more than 8.5 million million employees around the world. and price of crude oil is affecting every rescuers have been trained and more I appreciate the work of the National hardworking man and woman in this than 60 million people have taken one Safety Council along with that of em- country.