October 11, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1273 Charles spent four years in the U.S. Army, CELEBRATING THE DEDICATION ments and covers unpaid staff as well. This is serving 15 months in Korea. He is a member OF THE WOMEN’S a step in the right direction beginning where of Macedonia Baptist Church, Mathews Amer- MONUMENT Congress should—right here in the Congress ican Legion Post 83, and Oriental Lodge No. itself. However, nothing equivalent has been 20. He also serves on the board of directors HON. A. DONALD McEACHIN done for sexual harassment that affects the of the Mathews Farm Bureau. Charles has OF VIRGINIA American people. We have largely neglected been a businessman in Mathews County for IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES our own constituents, despite the increasing number of troubling reports in the news of over six decades, concurrently operating a Friday, October 11, 2019 sexual harassment claims. barber shop for 63 years and a daffodil farm Mr. MCEACHIN. Madam Speaker, I would A national commission would assure the for 55 years. He has previously served on the like to take this opportunity to celebrate the American people that Congress takes sexual Mathews Memorial Library Board of Trustees unveiling of the Virginia Women’s Monument harassment affecting them—the typical work- and the Middle Peninsula Community Criminal in Richmond, Virginia. er—seriously, beyond the high-profile exam- Justice Board. I would like to recognize the Virginia Council ples, such as allegations against Harvey Charles’ tremendous contributions to his on Women for hosting the unveiling of this Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein and the Congress community include: building one new school groundbreaking monument, the first-of-its-kind itself, that have garnered the headlines. Most and renovating two others, building a new au- in the country to be erected on State Capitol importantly, the commission would hear from a ditorium at Mathews High School, closing the grounds. The Virginia Women’s Monument ac- cross section of the public—from office and knowledges the profound achievements and factory workers to retail and food service em- landfill and constructing a new transfer station, lasting legacies of extraordinary women who ployees—whose experiences with sexual har- renovating and adding onto Mathews Memo- have lived and worked in Virginia. assment have received almost no national at- rial Library, building a new court house, sup- The monument honors over four hundred tention. The commission could travel or invite porting a new senior center and installing a years of women’s history through twelve his- witnesses to Washington from throughout the new 911 system. toric Virginia women: Anne Burras Laydon, country to recommend changes in laws or reg- Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in , Mary Draper Ingles, Martha ulations and best practices on preventing, recognizing the accomplishments, tenacity, Washington, , Elizabeth training, investigating, responding to and pe- and dedication of Charles Ingram. Words Keckley, Sally L. Tompkins, Maggie L. Walker, nalizing sexual harassment in the private and alone cannot express our gratitude. May God Sarah G. Jones, Laura S. Copenhaver, Vir- public sectors. bless Charles Ingram and his family. ginia E. Randolph, and Ade`le Clark. Our constituents expect Congress, which These women made significant strides for represents every sector, to take on the prob- f the betterment of our Commonwealth and our lem of sexual harassment throughout our na- country. Their distinct accomplishments range tional economy, including private and public HONORING THE LIFE OF MESIK across various fields, such as business, bank- (federal, state and local) workplaces. A na- ABAJIAN ing, arts, politics, medicine, and social justice. tional commission could help reach and re- These women deserve a prominent platform duce sexual harassment, a form of gender dis- and our nation’s attention, and I am honored crimination, where the average American HON. JIM COSTA to recognize them. works. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join I strongly urge my colleagues to support this OF CALIFORNIA me in recognizing these distinguished women bill. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and honoring their memories through the dedi- f cation of the Virginia Women’s Monument. RECOGNIZING THE MINORITY Friday, October 11, 2019 f BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CEN- Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL TER AND DENISE MOORE FOR celebrate Mr. Mesik Abajian, who passed COMMISSION TO COMBAT WORK- BEING NAMED SMALL BUSINESS away on Thursday, September 27, 2019 at the PLACE SEXUAL HARASSMENT ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR age of 97. Mesik will be remembered for his ACT THROUGH THE TURNER CEN- service to our country and contributions to the TER’S SMALL BUSINESS community. HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON AWARDS Mesik was born to Salve and Nishon OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Abajian in Selma, California on May 31, 1922. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. CHERI BUSTOS OF ILLINOIS He was raised in Selma and graduated high Friday, October 11, 2019 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES school in 1941. Mesik joined the United States Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I in- Army Air Corps and served courageously in troduce the National Commission to Combat Friday, October 11, 2019 World War II. Upon his return from service, he Workplace Sexual Harassment Act to estab- Mrs. BUSTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today married the love of his life Peggy Emerzian in lish a national commission to examine and to recognize Denise Moore and the Minority 1946. combat sexual harassment in the U.S. work- Business Development Center for winning the Peggy and Mesik began farming in Selma place. Small Business Advocate of the Year Award I have modeled this bill on legislation Con- for the Bradley University Turner Center’s on their Bethel Avenue ranch and together gress has passed to address other national Small Business Awards. raised two daughters, Wendy and Shelly. problems considered to be serious, such as The Minority Business Development Center Mesik was passionate about farming and lived gambling. The almost daily exposure of allega- is a 501c3 organization that was created by on the family’s farm until his passing. Mesik tions of sexual harassment, many not denied, Denise Moore and the Black Business Alliance was married to Peggy for 61 years until her more than qualifies sexual harassment for na- to aid aspiring business owners get their ideas passing in 2007. tional attention and priority. This bill would cre- off the ground. The Minority Business Devel- Mesik is preceded in death by his parents ate a national commission to focus on sexual opment Center addresses concerns like lack Nishon and Salve Abajian, brother Seth harassment in major industries and work- of resource accessibility and a need for train- Abajian and his wife Ruby Abajian, sister places throughout the United States. ing on topics addressing business expansion. Anna Abajian, brother-in-law Manuel Kay Congress recently adopted a bill that ad- The organization serves the Peoria community Emerzian, and wife Peggy Abajian. He is sur- dresses harassment in the congressional by providing local aspiring business owners vived by his daughters, Wendy and Shelly, workplace. It requires Members of the House with education and training in the fundamen- and Senate to be personally liable for settle- tals of business planning and development. I and his many nieces and nephews. ments and awards resulting from harassment am deeply grateful to Denise Moore and the Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join and retaliation claims, removes the mandatory Minority Business Development Center for me in honoring the life and service of my counseling, mediation and ‘‘cooling off’’ peri- their service to the Peoria community. friend Mesik Abajian. He was a respected man ods for accusers that is currently required, It is because of community leaders such as of the Central Valley and his community. mandates publicly reporting awards and settle- Denise Moore that I am especially proud to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:39 Oct 12, 2019 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A11OC8.021 E11OCPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with REMARKS