Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 112 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 112 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 158 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2012 No. 9 House of Representatives The House met at noon and was day in Memphis, in a largely African plishments of many African Americans called to order by the Speaker pro tem- American crowd, I realized this was a in our history, African Americans who pore (Ms. FOXX). story about America’s progress and ful- came here in about 1620 as slaves and f filling its promise and about the prob- didn’t get freedom from slavery until lems we’ve had and have had to over- 1865, and then didn’t get real freedom DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO come. until Jim Crow laws were overturned TEMPORE The Tuskegee Airmen were men that in the 1960s. The vestiges of slavery and The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- wanted to fight for their country in Jim Crow still live with us. Those who fore the House the following commu- World War II, but they weren’t allowed overcame those obstacles and broke nication from the Speaker: to because of segregationist policies down barriers were heroes and need to WASHINGTON, DC, that we had at the time. The military be recognized in the middle of month of January 23, 2012. wasn’t integrated, and they didn’t February. I hereby appoint the Honorable VIRGINIA think African Americans were capable At one time, they said African Amer- FOXX to act as Speaker pro tempore on this of serving as pilots and weren’t allowed icans couldn’t play baseball, and Jack- day. to do so. They had an experimental ie Robinson showed them wrong. They JOHN A. BOEHNER, group set up in Tuskegee, Alabama, the said African Americans couldn’t be Speaker of the House of Representatives. Tuskegee Institute, to train black quarterbacks, and Doug Williams and f Army personnel who wanted to be pi- others showed them wrong. They MORNING-HOUR DEBATE lots. They succeeded, and they formed couldn’t be coaches. Bill Russell took the Tuskegee Airmen. They had many the Celtics to championships, and Tony The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- obstacles, but they beat the odds and Dungy in 2007 won a Super Bowl cham- ant to the order of the House of Janu- they succeeded. They rose to the chal- pionship. They couldn’t be pitchers and ary 17, 2012, the Chair will now recog- lenge. They dispelled myths that Afri- certainly couldn’t play tennis. Well, nize Members from lists submitted by can Americans weren’t courageous Arthur Ashe showed them wrong. In the majority and minority leaders for enough, weren’t skilled enough, golf, there is nobody in the world bet- morning-hour debate. weren’t smart enough. ter than Tiger Woods. The Chair will alternate recognition On Friday, at the request of the fam- And, you know, it’s amazing that in between the parties, with each party ily, I spoke at the funeral of Lieuten- this day and time, there are still bar- limited to 1 hour and each Member ant Colonel Luke Weathers, Jr. Lieu- riers to be broken. At one time, people other than the majority and minority tenant Colonel Weathers was from thought that an African American leaders and the minority whip limited Memphis originally and died in Tucson, couldn’t be President of the United to 5 minutes each, but in no event shall Arizona, at age 90. He was one of the States, wouldn’t be capable of such. debate continue beyond 1:50 p.m. first Tuskegee Airmen. He was buried Well, we know that’s wrong; but, unfor- f on Friday at Arlington National Ceme- tunately, there are still people in this tery with full military honors, family country who think that the President HONORING TUSKEGEE AIRMEN present, seven horses—six drawing the can’t be their President because of his The SPEAKER pro tempore. The carriage and the riderless horse—a race. Some even refer to him as a ‘‘food Chair recognizes the gentleman from military flyover, 21-gun salute passed, stamp President.’’ We know that code Tennessee (Mr. COHEN) for 5 minutes. an American hero being laid to rest in is wrong. I would ask anybody who Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, this hallowed ground, sacred ground, Ar- thinks that way or has those thoughts weekend a movie opened in America lington National Cemetery. to know that they are backwards that is really unlike any other movie. Lieutenant Colonel Weathers not thinking, just like the people were in It is a significant movie because it is only had to fight the Germans and the 1940s who said that black people about a group of gentleman who won fight for his country, he had to fight couldn’t participate in our military the Congressional Gold Medal, the his country to be accepted and benefit and couldn’t fly for our country and Tuskegee Airmen. They were the first in the basic rights that we all take for that the Red Tails couldn’t shoot down black airmen in the United States granted. To learn about Lieutenant the Germans and protect our bombers, military history. Colonel Weathers and the Tuskegee as they did. Those days are past. It’s part of black history; but beyond Airmen is inspiring. And during Black I would ask everybody to see the black history, it’s American history. History Month, we will reflect and we movie, remember the Tuskegee Air- Because as I watched the movie yester- celebrate other struggles and accom- men, realize how far our country has b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H83 . VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:55 Jan 24, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23JA7.000 H23JAPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H84 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 23, 2012 come, and get beyond any bigotry that nesses, impound property, disrupt le- Area 4 director for the Northeast Re- we have in ourselves. This is a Nation gitimate speech, and dragoon innocent gion of the Boy Scouts of America. of tolerance and diversity, and we must third parties into enforcing laws that Bruce McMillan received his bach- celebrate it. I encourage everybody to may or may not have been broken. elor’s degree from Montclair State Uni- versity. He is a Vigil Honor member of learn about black history and the b 1210 Tuskegee Airmen, our great vehicle. the Order of the Arrow and a Wood When property is stolen, we hold ac- f Badge recipient. He has staffed jam- countable the individuals who know- borees, camp schools, and countless FREEDOM AND THE INTERNET, ingly commit the act and place the training events. VICTORIOUS burden of proof on the accuser. The ac- His career serving America’s youth The SPEAKER pro tempore. The cuser must demonstrate to the satis- began in 1975 as a district executive in Chair recognizes the gentleman from faction of the jury that the defendant Wayne, New Jersey. Since then, he California (Mr. MCCLINTOCK) for 5 min- stole property or that he received prop- went on to serve as a Scout executive utes. erty that he knew was stolen. in Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Mr. MCCLINTOCK. Madam Speaker, Yes, it is a ponderous system. Yes, it and Pennsylvania. Trip was then pro- long ago, Jefferson warned: ‘‘The nat- means you actually have to provide moted to the Northeast Region Area 4 ural progress of things is for liberty to evidence. Yes, it means you have to staff in 2001 and Area 4 director in 2008. yield and government to gain ground.’’ convince a jury. Yes, it means that we In all capacities, Trip has served with The exceptions to that rule have been can’t catch and successfully prosecute great distinction, earning the respect few and far between recently; and they every criminal. But the experience of and admiration of all he has served ought to be celebrated when they mankind over centuries has proven over a remarkable career. Congratula- occur, as one did just this past week that this is the best possible way to tions to Trip and his devoted wife, with the announcement that the sup- protect the innocent and protect our Diane. porters of the so-called Stop Online freedom while also punishing the Madam Speaker, I am honored to rec- Privacy Act and the Protect Intellec- guilty. In part, we punish the guilty to ognize a friend and scouting profes- tual Property Act have indefinitely discourage others that we might not be sional who has touched the lives of so postponed their measures after an un- able to punish. many youth in his service to scouting. precedented protest across the Inter- As the arrests yesterday in New Zea- Well done, Scouter. net. land prove, it works. Let Mr. Schmitz f SOPA and PIPA pose a crippling dan- and his confederates be extradited, and KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE ger to the Internet because they use le- let them have their day in court. Let The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gitimate concern over copyright in- evidence be presented. Let a jury be Chair recognizes the gentleman from fringement as an excuse for govern- convinced of that evidence. And if con- Mississippi (Mr. HARPER) for 5 minutes.