H56 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 8, 2020 many things, makes the environment Gary, Indiana, Mayor Richard Gordon spired and intrigued by the electoral cleaner, makes healthcare much more Hatcher. and political processes and systems be- affordable and available. Employment, Sadly, Mayor Hatcher passed away at cause of the tenure, political career, we have to do everything for those who the age of 86 on the 13th of December, and outstanding accomplishments of are older, to encourage them to partici- 2019. Although he is no longer with us, Mayor Richard Hatcher. pate in the labor force. Add some his legacy lives on. His legacy, his Mayor Hatcher was a visionary, a ‘‘spiffs,’’ add some benefits. work, his love, his sacrifices continue man who not only talked the talk, but How do we get millennial men that to be felt in these very Halls of Con- he walked the walk. On the streets of are still dramatically underperforming gress, throughout the city hall of Gary, Gary, he was highly visible. in showing up in the labor force? Indiana, and indeed, throughout these With all of that, his vision even sur- About a year ago, we had an amazing State legislative halls, these halls of passed and transcended Gary. In 1972, breakthrough, mathematically-wise, municipal governments in cities all he organized the inaugural and historic millennial females entering the work- across this Nation. National Black Political Convention in force. Mayor Hatcher was one who carved Gary. I was there. I attended. I saw it Every policy that moves through and made a way for African Americans in action. This National Black Polit- here we should test; does this benefit who are elected officials even to this ical Convention convened with two economic growth? very day. When Mayor Hatcher was goals: establishing an independent When we work on immigration pol- first elected mayor of Gary, Indiana, Black political agenda and electing icy, are we doing a talent-based immi- there were but few elected officials of more Black officials to public office. gration system, where we don’t care African American descent in the Na- Never before, not at any time, had this about your religion, your gender, or tion, but there now exists over 10,000 been done. who you cuddle with or anything like African American elected officials. In Over 8,000 individual American citi- that? We care about the economic vi- some supernatural sense, because of zens attended this historic occasion, tality you bring to our society. the hard work, the insight, the cour- including some who are icons even How do we encourage family forma- age, and the commitment of Mayor today in our Nation, including Rev- tion? Hatcher, his sterling example, we all erend Jesse Louis Jackson, Coretta Think of that. This one article here stand on the shoulders of Mayor Rich- Scott King, Betty Shabazz, Bobby talks about only 12 States actually had ard Gordon Hatcher. Seale, and my colleague from Chicago, positive birth rates over the previous Mayor Hatcher’s surprise victory Congressman DANNY K. DAVIS. Many, year. over the political machine in Gary, In- many others were involved, inspired, I know we get caught up in today’s diana, in 1967 was indeed a watershed educated, and learned the value of the shiny object; you know, whether it is moment for Black political participa- vote and heard for the first time that a the we hate the President side of this tion in this Nation. Along with the voteless people is a hopeless people, all room, or we feel we are stuck defend- election of Mayor Carl Stokes, the first because of the single vision of this one ing. And we are completely missing African American mayor of Cleveland, American giant, Mayor Richard Gor- what is going to end up driving all pub- Ohio, Mayor Hatcher became the first don Hatcher. lic policy in the next couple of years, Black mayor of a major U.S. city, the Mr. Speaker, I am honored and hum- and that is the fact that we are going city of Gary, Indiana. bled to speak in this well about this to be crushed by our debt. Mr. Speaker, in his two decades of giant of a man, telling all who have a There is a path. My fear is this cur- service as Gary’s mayor, Mayor Hatch- listening ear and a seeing eye about rent Congress, are we actually capable er fought valiantly in his beloved Gary the work of Mayor Hatcher and that of doing complex policy, lots of com- and throughout his beloved Nation for historic National Black Political Con- plex policy on every issue, and seeing it fair political representation for those vention. It was not just fighting the as a unified theory to maximize eco- whose voices had been previously dis- windmills, Don Quixote-like. It pro- nomic vitality so we actually have the missed, disregarded, and downright ig- duced results. receipts, so we keep the promises that nored for most of American history. At the time of this convention, there we go home and tell our constituents When Mayor Hatcher was elected to were just 14 African American Mem- we are working for? But, yet, then we lead a deeply segregated Gary, Indiana, bers of Congress, just 14. Today, there come here and we deny basic math. only two of the city’s department are 56 African American Members of Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance heads were African Americans, in a Congress, 56 living and breathing, hard- of my time. city that was actually over 50 percent working Members of this Congress who African American. Within 10 years of f are a result of the vision of Mayor Mayor Hatcher’s tenure as mayor, 25 of Hatcher and who were inspired by his b 1815 Gary’s 40 department heads were Afri- life and what he had accomplished. can Americans. HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY He was our inspiration. He gave all of Finally, Mr. Speaker, those who OF RICHARD GORDON HATCHER us an exceedingly high standard that worked for Gary’s government began to we live by even today. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under look more like Gary’s citizens, those the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- who were supposed to be working on b 1830 uary 3, 2019, the gentleman from Illi- behalf of the citizens of Gary, Indiana. Mayor Richard Gordon Hatcher nois (Mr. RUSH) is recognized for 60 As mayor of Gary, Mayor Hatcher spurred a wave of Black civic partici- minutes as the designee of the major- worked very closely with his congres- pation that reverberated all through- ity leader. sional delegation and the Democratic out America. In 1973, just 1 year, 365 Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, it is my dis- administration in the White House. He days, after the Gary convention, De- tinct honor and privilege to come be- secured millions of dollars in Federal troit elected its first African American fore the House this evening to cele- funding for job training programs for mayor, Mayor Coleman Young, Atlanta brate the memory of a major trail- Gary’s citizens and subsidized housing elected its first African American blazer in our Nation, one who was a for Gary’s citizens, building up a vi- mayor, Mayor Maynard Jackson, and fierce crusader for justice and equality, brant economy in his beloved city of Los Angeles elected its first African an American who was a quiet man, Gary, similarly and singlehandedly, in American mayor, Mayor Tom Bradley. with a quiet demeanor, but a giant in some instances, ensuring that those All across this Nation, major cities all terms of his accomplishments, his communities that were previously un- across this Nation saw a witness, and courage, and the things he did not only derserved received their fair share of participated and celebrated the elec- for his local constituency, the city of city services, Federal funding, and Fed- tion of mayors in major cities all Gary, Indiana, but the African Amer- eral dollars. across this Nation. ican community and America at large. Mayor Hatcher’s herculean efforts to The legacy, the inspiration, the ex- Mr. Speaker, I am speaking of the ensure fair representation extended far ample, the instruction just didn’t stop one and only, the first Black mayor of beyond Gary. As a young man, I was in- in 1973. Even some 10 years later,

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He challenged us to register 50,000 I am just grateful for all that he has less other trailblazers for civil rights. new voters, and we rose up to the chal- done for this Nation, all that he has One of those trailblazers who was in- lenge, a la just like being cognizant of done for poor people all across this Na- spired by Richard Gordon Hatcher, as what was going on in Gary, Indiana. tion, for the middle class all across this Mr. RUSH pointed out so eloquently, That voter registration, that election Nation, all that he has done for African was my predecessor from the First rocked the entrenched Chicago polit- Americans not only in Gary, and cer- Congressional District of Indiana, Rep- ical establishment, political machine. tainly in Gary, but in Chicago, Los An- resentative Katie Hall. The renowned Richard J. Daley’s geles, New York, Philadelphia, Cleve- b 1845 Democratic machine was overturned in land, Detroit, other places all across When Mrs. Hall was sworn into office 1983, inspired in no small respect by this Nation. Mayor Richard Gordon Hatcher in the He inspired young people, young pro- as U.S. Congressperson from the First city of Gary, Indiana. fessionals to look at public service as District, she became the first Black It just didn’t stop there, Mr. Speaker. being an honorable pursuit, an honor- woman from Indiana to serve in the The story didn’t end there. It kept de- able career, profession, and get in there United States House of Representa- veloping, it kept materializing. The and do something not just for yourself, tives. Again, as Mr. RUSH pointed out, there are many more African Ameri- civic awakening that was started in but do something for your Nation, for cans in this Chamber today. Gary, Indiana, with the election in 1967 your community, and for people who Representative Hall was also the of Mayor Hatcher, which ensued with need a voice, those who are voiceless. Member of Congress who sponsored the the election of Mayor Harold Wash- In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I want to legislation that was signed into law ington, inspired a young man who was extend my condolences to Mayor that established Dr. Martin Luther living in Los Angeles to move to Chi- Hatcher’s family, his wife, Ruthellyn, King’s birthday as a Federal holiday. cago, Gary’s neighbor. He wanted to be his daughters, and let them know that As we take time honoring Dr. King this a part of what was going on in Chicago, our prayers are with them, and their month, let us remember that that leg- in Gary, Indiana, in urban areas, and loss is great, our loss is great. We lost islation’s sponsor was mentored by major cities throughout the Nation. It a friend, we lost a colleague, we lost a Mayor Richard Gordon Hatcher. inspired him, a young law student champion, but in some sense, we lost As a resident of Gary, I would con- named Barack Obama, to move to Chi- someone who was a steadfast, rock clude by saying that I knew Richard cago, to the south side of Chicago to solid inspiration to us all. first and foremost as a dedicated hus- start community organizing and ulti- We mourn the loss of this American band and a proud and loving father and mately to become a State senator from giant, former Mayor Richard Gordon grandfather. In his three beloved the State of Illinois, then to become Hatcher. daughters and six grandchildren, it is the U.S. Senator from the State of Illi- With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield to the plainly evident that he has instilled his nois, and then finally to become Presi- gentleman from Indiana (Mr. VIS- exemplary dedication to hard work, the dent of these United States. CLOSKY), a gentleman who represents value of education, and a commitment So in no uncertain terms, the over- the city of Gary right now, another to public service. whelming outstanding achievements, man of unmatched wisdom and intel- Again, I appreciate that this time the miraculously determined achieve- lect, the chairman of the Appropria- was organized. Let us never lose sight ments of Mayor Richard Gordon Hatch- tions Subcommittee on Defense, and of the example that Mayor Hatcher er led to the election of Barack Obama my friend and colleague. provided for all of us to follow. as President of the United States. Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mayor Hatcher was pivotal in Rev- deeply appreciate Mr. RUSH yielding Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I certainly erend Jesse Jackson’s transcendent time to me. I also thank him for orga- thank the gentleman from Indiana for 1984 and 1988 Presidential campaigns. nizing this Special Order. I thank my his candid remarks, and he also stands In 1988, Mayor Hatcher served as his colleague from Chicago, Mr. DAVIS, for in the wonderful splendor of Mayor campaign vice chairman, and Reverend participating, and earlier today, ANDRE´ Hatcher’s legacy and of his work and Jackson in that historic campaign CARSON, a Member from Indianapolis, his commitment to public service. earned over 6.7 million votes and Rev- for also expressing deep regard for Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman erend Jackson, through the hard work Mayor Hatcher. from Illinois (Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS), and the inspiration of Mayor Richard Mr. Speaker, I also appreciate the who is my colleague, my true friend, Gordon Hatcher, won 11 primary con- gentleman’s eloquence in describing my coconspirator. tests. the incredible contribution that Rich- Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. You can’t undervalue, underestimate ard Gordon Hatcher made to our world Speaker, let me, first of all, thank Rep- how important that was. This hap- and, in particular, those most in need. resentative RUSH for his leadership, his pened before the election of Barack He is absolutely correct: it certainly vision, his diligence, and how well he Obama. transcended the city of Gary and his has reminded us of those glory years We all stand indebted to Richard immediate responsibilities. during the 1960s and 1970s that we call Gordon Hatcher and his life, the life Everyone here knows the vast and movement years. that he lived and the life that he led. immeasurable contributions that As I looked at the photograph of Mayor Hatcher’s victory was a clar- Mayor Hatcher has provided to advance Mayor Hatcher, I couldn’t help but ion call to all of us who aspired and are the cause of civil rights and racial smile thinking that, in 1967, that is the inspired to serve as elected officials in equality in all of our communities and way we looked. We obviously had more our Nation. throughout our Nation. hair. It was a different color. If we work hard, harness the imagi- On a personal level, I would note that And it is a great reminder of what it nation, speak to the real need of our my father, John Visclosky, also was was like during that period of time. constituents, we could also raise our mayor of Gary. While the mayors may There was so much momentum in the voices in the spirit of equity and fair- not have always agreed on every issue, air in terms of hope for change in ness, justice; that we could all stand Mayor Hatcher always treated my fa- America from what America had been not only in the well of the Congress, ther with respect and grace, and for to some to what America was to be- but in the State houses, in the city that, I will always be grateful. come. halls of our Nation and of States and Everyone he met and worked with I was thinking that, with just a little municipalities all over this country, was treated with similar dignity and different twist, I might have ended up even in the White House. respect. in Gary, Indiana, rather than in Chi- We miss Mayor Hatcher. We will miss Mayor Hatcher’s value of respect is cago, Illinois; because, as we were leav- his counsel. one we should all strive to emulate. ing the South, coming to other places

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My cousin Dozier Allen, officials, but particularly those of us manufacturing recession as marked by and then his son, who is now on the who have historically been denied the low levels of productivity. county board, and his cousin, who was opportunity to serve, I want to thank b 1900 on the county board before that, Roo- this wonderful man for giving me and Over the last 6 months of 2019, manu- sevelt Allen. If I had known that the others the audacity: the audacity to facturers lost a net of 23,000 jobs and Allens were there and were my cousins, act, to believe, to run, to get elected, average hours worked fell to its lowest I might have gone to Gary instead of to lead. levels in 8 years. Who is talking about coming to Chicago. Mr. Speaker, I give thanks to Mayor this? Your Congresswoman from Michi- But I remember 1967. I remember Hatcher for showing us the way to con- gan’s 11th District is talking about this 1972. I can remember those huge crowds tribute, to add our voices to the plight here tonight. of those who are seeking the American of people who converged on Roosevelt The reality of tariffs has cost us. High School where the National Black Dream, and for giving us the audacity, Tariffs imposed have cost U.S. corpora- Political Convention was taking place the audacity to act. tions $34 billion as of October 2019, as Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance and all of the eloquent speakers who marked by that day since they were were there: poets, Baraka, Ron Del- of my time. implemented. lums, and Charlie Diggs from Detroit. f Also, as October 2019 has marked, It was the most exciting thing I had PUT MANUFACTURING ECONOMY manufacturing taxpayers have paid $1.8 ever done, I mean, just to be in the AT THE FOREFRONT billion in 2019 in additional tariffs, in presence of all this action. additional money. I talk to these em- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under It seemed as though each speaker ployers. I talk to these small busi- the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- would be more eloquent and more com- nesses. I talk to the lifeblood of the pelling than whoever spoke before uary 3, 2019, the Chair recognizes the American economy, and they are pay- them. And, of course, Mayor Hatcher, gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. STE- ing more. They are squeezed. Their as the host and the person who had VENS) for 30 minutes. margins are tight. Can this continue? brought everybody together, was just Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise No, it cannot. off the charts. this evening to recognize a new year So that agenda that we are ushering You have pointed out how much his and a new decade in which we find our- in here the first month of 2020, is that presence, not only on an individual selves, the second half of this session of we do not forget that we need to ad- basis, means as a motivator, the 116th Congress, an incredible dele- dress the problem of tariffs for our stimulater, and activator for so many gation of individuals who have come manufacturers. We have given cer- others throughout the country who de- together on behalf of the American tainty with USMCA. We knew we need- cided they wanted to do this. They people, for the American people, to ed to give that certainty, in part, be- could do this because Richard Hatcher usher in an agenda of renewal, of cause the jobs were going to go else- had shown the way. standing up for everyday hardworking where. The investment was going to be And the individual cities that looked Americans: to protect their healthcare; made elsewhere. It wasn’t going to be at Gary. to advocate for infrastructure and made in the American workforce. Of course, Gary was a different Gary: good, sound infrastructure spending; as We are in a global race to compete. steel mills, steel jobs, opportunities, well as to stand up for hardworking We have got to compete as Americans. people were flocking. So a lot of folks Americans who have always played by We have got to compete as manufactur- who don’t look at history in terms of the rules and have worked for their re- ers in small communities, in suburban understanding and knowing how things tirement savings, my pensioners back communities like the ones that I have became and have become the way that home in Michigan. the privilege and honor of representing. they were, I mean, it is good to see It was a delight to close out the end Comprised within that are the people Gary on the way back. of the decade back home in my district who are going to work every single It has been good to work with Mayor with so many of my beloved constitu- day: in snowstorms, in rainstorms, on Rudy Clay, with Mayor Karen Wilson, ents and the community members who sunny days, in the middle of summer, and with others who are using what make us so strong. putting food on the table. Mayor Hatcher did. Mr. Speaker, it is a fact that on Jan- We look at wages and we ask our- It is good to know his daughter. It is uary 3, 2020, this new year, this new selves as we are now in this third dec- good to have come in contact with the decade, 1 year from when this Congress ade of this millennium of this century: individuals who are there who have re- was sworn in, this session of Congress What has transpired with wages? The fused to give up. was sworn in, the headline became pro- alarming headline as we were closing Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mr. VIS- nounced that industrial activity has out 2019 was that the richest, the CLOSKY for being a real part of the re- come down to its lowest point since wealthiest 500 individuals increased birth and redevelopment and recon- 2009, since the heart of the recession, their wealth in 2019 by $1 trillion, by stitution and reinstitution of Gary, In- with production, inventories, and new over $1 trillion, when wages for our diana, to become one of our cities that orders falling. middle class have remained stagnant; we knew in the past and so we can These are real headlines. These are where wages for the lowest earners in think of what is yet to come. headlines that affect the heart of our economy—we are still advocating I thank Congressman RUSH again for America. And while so much hums in to raise the minimum wage from $7, his vision. I thank him for his fore- our national media and in our national just about. It is the year 2020. sight, for his insight, and for giving us news, this is a reality for so many. This Who is working those jobs, by the to share, along with Representative is a reality for Michigan’s 11th Dis- way? Single mothers; people who have CARSON and Representative VISCLOSKY trict. played by the rules and who have chil- and himself, so that people who really We were delighted, we were pleased dren, who aren’t just working tem- didn’t know the history of Mayor Rich- to see us pass the USMCA overwhelm- porary jobs. This is the promise of ard Gordon Hatcher might have a bet- ingly bipartisan for the manufacturers, America. This is the dream of America, ter understanding of what his presence for the manufacturing economy, for Mr. Speaker, that we are representing, has meant, not just to Gary, but to the hardworking union members who and that I am fighting for all of you, America. will get a better deal because we are where my sleeves are rolled up. The Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, as I close advocating for buy American content. things that I am eyeing here. this significant moment in the annals We know the road to implementation Because if we don’t start addressing of this Congress, let me just say to the will be long, but it is an implementa- this, we stop winning. We stop having

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