CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions of Remarks E551 HON
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March 21, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks E551 unlawful for franchise companies to sell fran- to assist humanity and with his background in prevention dollars. The epidemic varies from chises and distributorships, and then take psychology, determined that the ministry State to State, and from locality to locality. back those franchises without fair compensa- would be the perfect place to impact the lives What works best to prevent HIV infections in tion. of his fellow brothers and sisters. After years San Francisco may not be what is most effec- Franchises employ more than 8 million peo- of studying the ministry, he emerged to found tive in Baltimore. This local approach is con- ple nationwide, and account for more than 35 the City of Angeles Church of Religious sistent with efforts to place decisionmaking in percent of U.S. retail sales. Current trends Science in 1985. Shortly thereafter, he found- the hands of states and localities, rather than suggest this explosion will continue, providing ed the Children's Charities and Scholarship pursuing a one-size-fits-all solution. a certain urgency to our cause to correct in- Foundation, thereby fulfilling a lifetime commit- In my work focusing on the needs of women equities and unfair trade practices sooner, ment to creating a viable organization dedi- in the HIV epidemic, the effectiveness of com- rather than later. cated to helping children. In the ensuing munity-based prevention programs has been Many issues deserve exploration such as years, the church and its foundation have demonstrated time and time again. Providers proper disclosure by franchisors and parent made innumerable contributions to the Los with a history of service to women's commu- companies. Our basic goal, however, should Angeles community. nities understand that prevention efforts must be to prevent unfair practices that do not prop- Dr. O.C., as he is affectionately known by acknowledge and respond to the issues of low erly recognize or compensate for the equity his congregation, continues to give concert self-esteem, economic dependency, fear of ownership rights that many franchisees and performances and ministers to people through- domestic violence, and other factors which are distributors have in their franchises, and ulti- out the world. Because of his commitment to barriers to empowering women. mately devalue franchising as a successful humankind, he serves as a perfect role model Our bill is a comprehensive approach to HIV way of conducting business. for individualsÐboth young and old. I am prevention. I urge my colleagues to join us as f proud to have this opportunity to commend cosponsors of this important legislation. him for his distinguished contributions to our f TRIBUTE TO DR. O.C. SMITH society, and on behalf of the citizens of the 32d Congressional District, I salute him and HONORING JOSIE POITIER FOR 39 HON. JULIAN C. DIXON wish him many more years of sweet, soulful YEARS OF OUTSTANDING AND OF CALIFORNIA music and fellowship as he continues to pro- CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES vide outstanding leadership as the spiritual COMMUNITIES WITHIN DADE COUNTY Thursday, March 20, 1997 head of the City of Angeles Church of Reli- gious Science. Mr. DIXON. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, April f HON. CARRIE P. MEEK 19, the men's club of the City of Angeles OF FLORIDA Church will sponsor a roast of church pastor, COMPREHENSIVE HIV PREVENTION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Dr. O.C. Smith. Dr. Smith, better known to ACT OF 1997 many as the multiple Grammy nominee and Thursday, March 20, 1997 singer of the million seller standard, ``Little HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is my Green Apples,'' is the founder of the City of OF MARYLAND pleasure to recognize Josie Poitier, from Lib- Angeles Church of Religious Science. In rec- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES erty City, who has contributed greatly to the ognition of his numerous contributions to the communities of my district. For 39 years, Ms. Thursday, March 20, 1997 church and to the Los Angeles community, Poitier has volunteered her time, effort, and and in appreciation of his lasting contributions Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, today I am in- hard work creating many programs that have to the music industry, I am pleased to have troducing legislation, along with Congress- helped unite the community. She is an out- this opportunity to recognize Dr. Smith today. woman NANCY PELOSI and more than 100 of standing individual who has generated re- Prior to embarking on his legendary musical our colleagues, to provide a comprehensive spect, helped shape community pride, and career, O.C. attended and graduated from approach to HIV prevention. manifested hope that was once lost. Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA, earn- Our country faces 40,000 new HIV infec- The Miami Herald recognized Josie Poitier ing a degree in psychology. Following gradua- tions each year. The HIV epidemic is leaving in an article titled ``Building Bridges Between tion, he entered the U.S. Air Force and Spe- no population untouched, and it is spreading Communities,'' published January 20, 1997, cial Services, where as an entertainer he particularly rapidly among our young people, which commemorated her honorable civic toured bases all over the world. Looking to women, and people of color. Women are the service. I would like to submit a portion of this break into the music business after his tour fastest growing group of people with HIV; inspiring article for the RECORD. with the Air Force had ended, O.C. settled in AIDS is the third leading cause of death in ``Every morning,'' says Josie Poitier, ``I go New York City. During the winter months, he women ages 25 to 44. Low-income women outside to pick up my paper and I look up at made the rounds in many of the small clubs and women of color are being hit the hardest the sky and pray, `Lord, let me help some- in the city, giving nightly performances. In the by this epidemic. African-American and Latina body today.' '' summer months, he would travel to the re- women represent 75 percent of all U.S. For the last 39 years, Poitier has found nowned ``Borsch Belt'' hotels in the Catskills, women diagnosed with AIDS. plenty of people to helpÐfrom senior citizens where he entertained audiences with some of Our bill authorizes funding for family plan- who had never been on an airplane until she took them to the Bahamas, to the people his most soulful hits. ning providers, community health centers, sub- from a myriad of heritages she invites to her O.C.'s big break occurred when he learned stance abuse treatment programs, and other now famous Good Friday/Passover brunch to that the great Count Basie was looking for a providers who already serve low-income share in a spirit of community. replacement for the legendary Joe Williams. women, to provide community-based HIV pro- And that's only two of the projects of her O.C. was selected and for the next 3 years, grams. These provisions were part of my page-long list that includes: coordinating a he toured with the ``Count'' developing a huge, women and AIDS prevention bill from the last holiday turkey meal for the elderly at St. loyal following throughout the United States. Congress. Our bill also creates a new program Mary's Towers, pulling together an anti-drug He left Basie's orchestra to pursue a solo ca- to address concerns about HIV for rape vic- workshop for 18 inner city schools, making sure her neighborhood's lights are all work- reer and struck gold with his memorable hits tims. ing properly and promoting scholarships and of ``Little Green Apples,'' ``Hickory Holler's The legislation also authorizes programs to a college education for black youth. Tramp,'' and ``Daddy's Little Man.'' He sang build on the HIV Prevention Community Plan- Ask her why she does it, why she runs so the theme song from the motion pictures, ``The ning Process implemented by the Centers for hard, and Poitier will tell you it's because Learning Tree,'' and ``Shaft's Big Score.'' Disease Control and Prevention in 1994. Simi- the elderly are lonely and their children are Other well known hits of his include ``Help Me lar provisions were included in previous legis- too busy to visit, and because, in South Flor- Make It Through the Night,'' ``For the Good lation introduced by Congresswoman PELOSI, ida, there's a need to build ``a bridge between Times,'' ``That's Life,'' ``Don't Misunderstand,'' who worked to reform the CDC prevention people.'' ``This opened a lot of avenues,'' she says of ``Dreams Come True,'' and ``What `Cha Gonna programs and to develop the community plan- the brunch that started at her Liberty City Do.'' ning process. This process has ensured that home 11 years ago and has grown to 200 peo- Several years into his highly successful mu- States and local health departments, in part- ple who gather at Holy Redeemer Catholic sical career, Dr. Smith opted to redirect his ca- nership with community planning groups, Church. ``Everyone comes together as one, reer focus to the ministry. He felt a great need make the decisions on how best to target their like a family.'' E552 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks March 21, 1997 Poitier, 52, a volunteer specialist with the pay tribute to Mr. Mark Richard Nichols of the in Saginaw, MI. He served in that capacity Miami Police Department, plunged into ac- Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, who will be from 1939 to 1952.