CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions of Remarks E2083 HON

October 7, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2083 York from 1945 to 1947, he worked as a Resolved, by U.S. Representative Diane E. Despite rhetoric to the contrary, the Presi- YMCA and Parks Department instructor, hos- Watson, that the outstanding artistic achieve- dent’s actions will prove just as devastating to pital orderly and shipping clerk in New York ments and exemplary civic contributions of workers in the Gulf region as the destruction while studying for the acting and singing ca- Brock Peters be Saluted and Memorialized in wrought by the hurricanes. Mr. Speaker, I ask reer which was the object of his life-long the Annals of the Congress of these United unanimous consent that this Post article be dreams; and States of America, with most sincere condo- printed in the RECORD in its entirety. Whereas, Brock first took the stage at the lences to his bereaved family and prayers that [From the Washington Post, Oct. 7, 2005] his soul may now rest in eternal peace. age of 15 in the 1943 Broadway production of SMALL BUSINESSES LOSE KATRINA CLEANUP Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, sang bass with Attested this 27th Day of August in the Year CONTRACTS TO LARGE FIRMS the DePaur Infantry Chorus, joined a traveling 2005. (By Jonathan Weisman) cabaret act that played in American and Cana- f dian clubs, and was among the first African When Al Knight received notice Friday TAIWAN’S NATIONAL DAY that his small company’s contract to help Americans to break through in television when wire Louisiana’s storm-damaged Alvin he sang on The Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts Callendar Naval Air Station had been in 1953; and HON. DAVID WU abruptly canceled, he could not have known Whereas, Brock’s film career flowered when OF OREGON the reverberations would reach Washington he breathed life into some of the most memo- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES within days. rable roles in American cinema, playing ‘‘Ser- Friday, October 7, 2005 But the plight of little Knight Enterprises geant Brown’’ in Otto Preminger’s Carmen LLP has several compelling factors: a minor- Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, on October 10, 2005, Brown in 1954 and ‘‘Crown’’ in the 1959 film ity owned small business in New Orleans los- Taiwan’s National Day, I offer my best wishes version of Porgy and Bess, yet these vil- ing out to a big, national firm; local work- and congratulations to the people of Taiwan ers, mainly African American, first dev- lainous portrayals nearly stalled Brock’s career for building a democratic, peaceful and pros- astated by Hurricane Katrina and then sup- until he garnered his most famous role in perous island. Taiwan witnessed the first ever planted by out-of-state, low-wage replace- 1962, that of the innocent but falsely accused peaceful transition of political power in Chi- ments; questions over White House wage ‘‘Tom Robinson’’ vindicated by Gregory Peck’s nese cultural history in 2000. policies; and a name that has haunted the Oscar-award winning performance in To Kill A Bush administration since the invasion of Taiwan is also an island with a significant Mockingbird, henceforth Brock’s film char- Iraq—Halliburton. Little wonder that Sen. population and a prosperous economy. The acters varied between the noble and the noto- Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.) highlighted it yes- two peoples, both Taiwanese and Americans, rious, including ‘‘Johnny’’ in 1962’s The L- terday as he grilled the Federal Emergency share a common belief in democracy, the ad- Management Agency’s acting director, R. Shaped Room and ‘‘Rodriguez’’ in 1965’s The herence of human rights and the rule of law. David Paulison, on the Bush administra- Pawnbroker, and more than a dozen other I believe it is important that we maintain a free tion’s hurricane recovery contracts. films including The Incident (1967), Soylent and open relationship. The United States After Katrina hit, most of Knight’s elec- Green (1972), Lost in the Stars (1974), Two- should remain committed to stability in the re- tricians found themselves with nothing: Minute Warning (1976), Star Trek IV (1986) gion. I believe the United States must continue homeless, jobless and broke. But when Ala- and Star Trek VI (1991), in between which bama-based BE&K landed a subcontract to to play a role in guaranteeing the peaceful Brock had a significant television career, play- help rebuild the naval air station, it turned resolution any destabilizing issues between ing featured or recurring roles in Roots: The to Knight for electricians—he says 75, BE&K Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China. says 59 at the peak of work. Next Generation (1979), Battlestar Galactica It is my hope that there will be enduring (1979) and the musical Polly! (1989) as well BE&K was working for Kellogg, Brown & peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region, Root, a subsidiary of Halliburton Co., Vice as scores of guest show appearances and film especially in the Taiwan Strait. It is also my President Cheney’s former company. voice-overs, yet Brock never abandoned live hope that both Taiwan and the People’s Re- When BE&K came to him, Knight said he theater, where he starred in such hits as public of China will soon resume their dia- was told his work would run well into the Othello (1963), My Children, My Africa (1990), logue, as it is my belief that negotiation is im- millions of dollars and stretch out as long as and the stage versions of The Great White perative to any resolution. 20 months. His men would be paid the pre- Hope (1971), Driving Miss Daisy (1989) and vailing union wage of $22.09 an hour, plus Lost in the Stars; and f health benefits. Whereas, having married Delores ‘‘DiDi’’ DAVIS-BACON SUSPENSION After three weeks, the initial work was 60 Daniels in 1961, the couple sustained a tire- LEAVES LOCALS JOBLESS IN percent completed. Then, on Friday, Knight received a letter informing him that BE&K less parallel career as advocates for African GULF workers—largely from out of state and, ac- American drama and craftsmanship, together cording to Knight, earning $14 to $15 an hour founding Delbro Enterprises which produced HON. MAJOR R. OWENS without benefits—could take over from Five on the Black-Hand Side (1973), and the OF NEW YORK there. PBS documentary This Far by Faith (1975), Susan Wasley, a BE&K spokeswoman, said IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and directing an actors studio specializing in Knight’s crew was always there merely to African and African American theater, Brock Friday, October 7, 2005 augment the company’s own staff of 45 elec- also became a co-founder of the Dance The- Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, the indefinite tricians. Knight Enterprises was let go be- ater of Harlem; such artistic leadership gar- suspension of Davis-Bacon by President Bush cause its work was done. nered numerous honors for Brock Peters in- Knight did not blame BE&K for his dis- has destroyed the hopes of local residents in appointment. Instead, he pointed to Presi- cluding Presidency of the California Arts Com- the Gulf region—many of whom had already dent Bush’s decision last month to suspend mission, induction in the Black Filmmakers lost everything in the wake of Hurricanes the so-called Davis-Bacon federal law that Hall of Fame, the Best Actor in a Musical Katrina and Rita. Now Gulf residents who mandates that workers on federal projects be Award from the Drama Desk and Outer Critics work in construction have to contend with paid the average wage of an area, often the Circle Awards, nomination for a Tony Award, wages even lower than those normally pre- union wage. Once BE&K was forced to com- and receipt of awards from the National Film vailing in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and pete with nonunion companies for KBR con- Society and the Screen Actors Guild, and; several counties in Florida. As documented by tracts, they could not afford the union elec- tricians that dominate Louisiana, he said. ‘‘I Whereas, Brock Peters, preceded in death an article which appeared in today’s Wash- can tell you this for sure,’’ Knight said. ‘‘If by his beloved wife DiDi in 1990, leaves to ington Post, the President’s suspension of Davis-Bacon wage rates were left alone, then cherish his memory his beloved daughter Lisa Davis-Bacon and clear preference for political you’d have local Louisiana people working Jo Peters and a host of family, friends, col- cronies also appears to make Gulf residents on local projects, and we would be working leagues and fans; Now, therefore, be it last on the list for Katrina reconstruction jobs. today.’’

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