Congressional Record—House H5818
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H5818 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 8, 2015 The sanctions by our country alone Rising from the public housing ied with no name at Arlington. And he were insufficient. But, as a global com- projects of Cleveland, he and his broth- made sure that that area was espe- munity, we were sufficient. And that is er Carl became revered as they built a cially recognized, and he was writing where the P5+1 comes in. Listen care- more inclusive and representative history for America for the first time. fully to what those countries are say- America. What courage and passion I thought, wow, this isn’t 1870. This ing about a renegotiation, ‘‘not like- that required. was in the 1980s and 1990s. He was a ly.’’ A proud, personable, and gracious great teacher. So where are we? I believe we have to man whose fashion and manner exuded I shall sorely miss his dogged deter- support this deal that was put together dignity, it was actually never his aspi- mination, easy smile, keen and meas- by these six major countries, supported ration to be a politician. He opted in- ured counsel, and persevering nature. by the European Union and the United stead to serve the local neighborhoods The last time we were together was Nations. This is the path that would of Cleveland, where he grew up, after at a Fair Housing meeting in Cleve- block all paths to a nuclear weapon returning from 3 years of service in the land, Ohio, just a few months ago. that Iran might be able to pursue for at U.S. Army during World War II. Looking back on his generous attend- least the next 15 years and beyond. After using his GI benefits to go to ance at age 90 and looking in really I ask my colleagues to look hard at college, Lou served in the Veterans Ad- great shape, I think it was his way—he this. Unfortunately, a lot of the news- ministration and the Treasury Depart- hadn’t told anyone yet what was ailing papers are portraying this as a partisan ment before attending law school. He him, but I think it was his way of say- fight. I don’t believe it is. I know that loved the law. He loved being a lawyer, ing good-bye. What a gracious gentleman he was. many of my colleagues on the Demo- and he loved writing laws here. What a gifted leader has lived among cratic side and certainly what appears His enlightened leadership moved us. to be most Republicans, if not all, are America forward socially, economi- I am going to place in the CONGRES- opposed to the deal. I am certain many cally, and legally. In Congress, his gen- SIONAL RECORD a special story that was tlemanly demeanor and sharp intellect of them have their own reasons for in the Cleveland Plain Dealer entitled, allowed him to chair, again, as the first that opposition. ‘‘Lou Stokes—The Congressman, Lead- But I think, when you take a com- African American, the Appropriations ing Lawyer, and Towering Political prehensive look at this deal, when you subcommittee on Veterans, Housing Presence Has Died,’’ written by Brent look at all of the elements, that is, and Urban Development, and Inde- Larkin, Tom Diemer, and Sabrina what happens if there is no deal and pendent Agencies. Eaton of the Northeast Ohio Media Iran can immediately restart its nu- As a much newer, younger Member of Group. clear weapons program, you go, ‘‘Whoa. Congress, I had the great privilege of Though I won’t read the entire arti- That is not a good thing.’’ serving under him as he chaired that cle into the record tonight, let me just On the other hand, if this deal holds, important committee. read a few sentences: then Iran will be prevented from hav- He also chaired the House Select ‘‘We have been blessed as a family ing a nuclear weapon for at least 15 Committee on Assassinations and with a legacy we can always be proud years, quite probably 20 years. served on the House Select Committee of,’’ Lou Stokes said. ‘‘Together with Should they continue to honor the to investigate covert arms transactions Carl’’—his brother—‘‘we made a name nonproliferation treaty, then it would with Iran. His agile legal mind was evi- that stood for something. What greater go on indefinitely. That is a good dent in the investigations he con- honor could have come to two brothers thing. And, therefore, I support this ne- ducted. who grew up in poverty here in Cleve- gotiated deal and I ask my colleagues The people of Cleveland and Ohio land?’’ to do the same. have been blessed throughout his life And he tells a story about his moth- With that, Mr. Speaker, I have com- and hold abiding gratitude for his ex- er. He would always get tears in his pleted my time on the floor. traordinary accomplishments and gen- eyes when he would talk of his mother. I notice that two of my colleagues erous spirit. I can still hear his laugh. She had become ill at one point, and he are here to speak to the passing of one I am privileged, actually, to have went to visit her. of our Members of this House who served with Congressman Stokes for al- And he said, ‘‘I took her hands to served here for many, many years. most a quarter century and hold last- give her some comfort and, when I felt f ing memories of his deep love for his those hard, cold hands from scrubbing wife, for his mother, for his brother, for floors in order to give me an education, HONORING REPRESENTATIVE his children, and his grandchildren. LOUIS STOKES I began to understand what her life was He had indefatigable and inspired ef- about, what her life meant.’’ And that The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under forts to gain respect and equal justice piercing memory Lou carried with him the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- in the law for all of our citizens. And every day of his life. uary 6, 2015, the gentlewoman from he saw progress, great progress, in his ‘‘Beginning in junior high school, Ohio (Ms. KAPTUR) is recognized for the lifetime that we have so far to go. Stokes took jobs delivering the Cleve- remainder of the hour as the designee I witnessed his perseverance in build- land News, shining shoes, and working of the minority leader. ing America’s communities forward in a small factory that made canned Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I would and his dedication to meeting our Na- whipped cream.’’ like to extend deepest thanks to Con- tion’s obligations to veterans, to ad- When he was 16, a man named Isadore gressman GARAMENDI for sharing his vance space science, and to catapult Apisdorf hired him to perform odd jobs time with us and, also, to Congress- Cleveland’s health and human services at his Army-Navy surplus store on woman EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, who to the top rung of national assets. lower Prospect Avenue. Seeing some- has been waiting almost an hour to I have so many memories of Con- thing in the youngster, Apisdorf ig- share her memories of a very great gressman Stokes. I can remember one nored the risk to his business in those American. time in a subcommittee he had the days and hired Stokes as a salesman. We are here this evening, Mr. Speak- head of Arlington Cemetery come up, When speaking of his early years, er, and we rise to honor the illustrious and he had these big volumes that he Stokes always remembered to mention career of a dear friend and stellar col- brought with him of who were the vet- the kindness demonstrated to him by a league, the late Congressman Louis erans who were interred there. man ‘‘who sort of acted like a father to Stokes from Cleveland, Ohio. And Congressman Stokes pointed out me,’’ Congressman Stokes said. Our hearts are heavy, but immensely to the entire committee, ‘‘Go down and Stokes graduated from Central High grateful for his path-breaking life and read the roster.’’ And the roster said, School in 1943. And with World War II legendary generous service. As the first ‘‘No name,’’ ‘‘No name,’’ ‘‘No name,’’ raging, he joined the Army and was as- African American Member of Congress ‘‘No name.’’ And Congressman Stokes signed to a segregated unit that re- elected to serve from Ohio, he wrote informed us that, in fact, those were mained Stateside, mainly in the south. new history for America, for Ohio, Africa Americans who had died in serv- Stokes recalled a layover his unit every day of his life. ice to our country, but they were bur- once had in Memphis where a group of VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:35 Sep 09, 2015 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K08SE7.051 H08SEPT1 emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with HOUSE September 8, 2015 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5819 German prisoners of war in a train sta- chair the Intelligence Committee and serve worked for a time for the Veterans Adminis- tion restaurant were treated better on the influential House Appropriations tration and Treasury Department before than the Black soldiers. Committee. graduating from Cleveland State Univer- In Cleveland, Stokes’ political muscle was Louis Stokes embodied so many sity’s Cleveland Marshall College of Law in the 21st Congressional District Caucus, a po- 1953. memories and so much progress that he litical organization founded by his late Stokes opened up a small law office on St.