E446 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks April 13, 2016 Republic until annexation, the United States with Teach For America in the Mississippi predecessors. His great uncle, Harrison Doug- again, and then the Southern Confederacy. Delta region where he taught second grade at lass, was a contemporary of Booker T. Wash- Mr. McKinney’s life of public service and Carver Elementary School. He was awarded a ington during his undergraduate years at dedication to the cause of freedom should in- ‘‘Certificate of Appreciation for Excellence in Tuskegee University during the early 20th cen- spire each of us. I am proud to honor this Teaching’’ from the Indianola Association of tury, and studied and worked in agricultural statesman and encourage every Texan to Educators. extension at Iowa State University. He taught study his life so that we may continue his leg- Dr. Herts holds a Ph.D. Degree in Planning at Tuskegee, Grambling, and Southern univer- acy. and Public Policy from Rutgers Graduate sities and established Douglass High School f School-New Brunswick and the Edward J. for African Americans in his northern Lou- Bloustein School of Planning and Public Pol- isiana hometown. Dr. Herts acknowledges HONORING DR. ROLANDO D. HERTS icy. His dissertation From Outreach to En- Harrison Douglass, as well as his grand- gaged Placemaking: Understanding Public parents Mr. Archie and Leola Simmons and HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON Land-Grant University Involvement with Tour- Mr. Hermon and Shelley Herts, as key OF MISSISSIPPI ism Planning and Development examines uni- sources of inspiration for his parents and him- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES versity-community tourism engagement as a self as they completed higher levels of edu- destination promotion and economic develop- Wednesday, April 13, 2016 cation and committed their lives to serving ment strategy. His reflective essay, ‘‘Sacred communities of diversity. Dr. Herts is pro- Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speak- Ground, Traveling Light: Personal Reflections moting and preserving this family tradition by er, I rise today to honor a remarkable Black on University-Community Tourism Engage- encouraging the next generation to learn Professional, Dr. Rolando D. Herts, a resident ment,’’ won the prize for Best Treatise in Im- about and celebrate their heritage. In par- of Cleveland, Mississippi. pressions, Ruminations, Treatises: Essays on ticular, he is dedicated to sharing heritage- Dr. Rolando D. Herts is the Director of the Intersectionality, Praxis, and the Educational based educational opportunities with his sis- Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta Arena, a collection published by the Institute ters, nieces, and nephew. State University in Cleveland, Mississippi. The For Recruitment of Teachers, Phillips Acad- Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me Delta Center serves as the management entity emy, Andover, Massachusetts. Dr. Herts also in recognizing an amazing black professional for the Mississippi Delta National Heritage holds a M.Phil. Degree in Planning and Public and community landscape innovator. Area, a partnership between the people of the Policy from Rutgers, an M.A. Degree in Social f Mississippi Delta and the National Park Serv- Science from the University of Chicago, and a ice designed to promote understanding of the B.A. Degree in English from Morehouse Col- CELEBRATING THE 75TH ANNIVER- Delta’s cultural heritage through education, lege. His interests include university-commu- SARY OF THE NUTLEY HIGH tourism, and economic development. The nity engagement and partnership develop- SCHOOL CREW PROGRAM Delta Center also oversees the International ment, community-based tourism planning, Delta Blues Project, a three-tiered initiative place branding/marketing, community and re- HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN featuring an International Conference on the gional development, and interorganizational OF NEW JERSEY Blues, the development of an academic blues collaboration. He is a member of the Rotary IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES studies program, and a Blues Leadership In- Club of Cleveland, Mississippi, which is an af- Wednesday, April 13, 2016 cubator for entrepreneurship and economic filiate of Rotary International, a worldwide net- Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise development, which aligns with Delta State work of business and professional leaders today in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of University’s goal of becoming a destination for dedicated to humanitarian service. the Nutley High School Crew Program. blues education with GRAMMY Museum Mis- Education, community engagement, public The Nutley High School Crew team first sissippi. service and cultural heritage development began rowing on the Passaic River in 1942. Previously, Dr. Herts was Associate Director have been prominent themes in Dr. Herts’ Founded by Coach Bill Bennet, the crew pro- with the Office of University-Community Part- family. His father, Dr. George E. Herts, earned gram has provided a productive and competi- nerships (OUCP) at Rutgers, the State Univer- a Doctorate in Educational Administration from tive outlet for Nutley students for the past 75 sity of New Jersey. In this capacity, he helped the University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne, years. Although the program initially was avail- to advance a learning organization model that became the first African-American Super- able only to male students, the early 1980s integrates university-community partnership intendent of schools in the Arkansas Delta saw the introduction of a women’s crew pro- development, campus and community event community of Eudora, and subsequently com- gram. Since then, both the men’s and wom- planning and management, and campus and pleted 30 years of service at the University of en’s teams have been dominant forces in high visitor information functions. During his tenure Arkansas at Pine Bluff in various leadership school crew, with athletes competing against with Office of University-Community Partner- capacities, including Dean of the School of some of the best teams in the United States ships, Dr. Herts collaborated with an array of Education and Dean of Graduate and Con- and Canada. local, regional, and state entities—including tinuing Studies. His mother, Dr. Ruth Sim- Graduates of the Nutley program have gone the Greater Newark Convention and Visitors mons-Herts, earned a doctorate in Educational on to have successful athletic and academic Bureau, Brick City Development Corporation, Administration at the University of Arkansas at careers, with many continuing to row at some New Jersey Department of Travel and Tour- Fayetteville, and served for several years as a of the top college programs in the country. ism, the City of Newark, the Rutgers Center public school central office administrator in Lit- The industrious nature and sense of teamwork for Latino Arts and Culture, WBGO 88.3 Jazz tle Rock, Arkansas, and as Assistant Dean of fostered by the Nutley program in its athletes FM radio, and the Newark Literacy Cam- the School of Education and the Director of are easily translatable in a variety of settings. paign—to help promote the university and the Performance Based Education at Langston These athletes utilize the skills developed surrounding community and region as distinc- University in Oklahoma. For over 25 years, within the program throughout their post-high tive educational destinations. As a Leadership she has served in local, regional, and national school careers. Newark Fellow, he was presented the leadership roles as a member of The Links, Nutley rowers are notable for the high aca- Berkowitz Distinguished Service Award for his Incorporated, an international service organi- demic performance levels they have main- commitment to the Greater Newark commu- zation of African-American women. She also tained alongside their athletic achievements. nity. was a member of the Rotary Club of Little The intensity of training and racing schedules Prior to working at Rutgers, Dr. Herts was a Rock, the oldest and largest civic organization in no way impedes academic performance, but faculty member with the Fanning Institute, a in Arkansas, and served on several commu- rather assists in forming well-rounded, athletic public service unit at the University of Georgia nity boards including the Arkansas Arts Center students. where he was selected to participate in the and Black Community Developers, Inc., which Nutley High School Crew alumni and their Emerging Engagement Scholars Workshop of brought the internationally-renowned More- children often return to the program to con- the Engagement Scholarship Consortium. He house College Glee Club to Little Rock for the tinue its tradition of cultivating strong rowers also served as program director of INSPIRE/ first time in the singing organization’s history and even stronger leaders. Whether coaching TRIO Student Support Services, a top-funded during the younger Dr. Herts’ tenure as tour or rowing, these individuals are important federal retention and graduation program for manager of the Glee Club and as baritone community figures and contribute substantially first-generation college students at the Univer- member of the Morehouse College Quartet. to the Township of Nutley. sity of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In addition, he Dr. Herts is dedicated to building upon the Over the years, both the Nutley Board of completed a two-year teaching commitment exemplary legacy of service established by his Education and the Nutley Crew Boosters have

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:12 Apr 14, 2016 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A13AP8.041 E13APPT1 smartinez on DSK9F6TC42PROD with REMARKS April 13, 2016 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E447 been incredibly supportive of the program. Founded by Steve and Nancy Sheetz to in- beautiful small city, strategically located in Without their contributions, the program would still leadership and an entrepreneurial mindset the south-central part of Shelby County. We be unable to maintain its strength. in students studying business at Penn State had a population of 11,800 residents according For 75 years, the Nutley High School Crew to the 2010 census, but I believe thousands Altoona, the Sheetz Fellows Program con- more today. Between the 2000 to 2010 census, team has been a staple of the Nutley commu- tinues to make a positive impact in the lives of our city was title as being the fastest grow- nity, allowing student athletes to compete and the committed Penn State Altoona student ing city (percentage wise), in the State of contribute. Their contributions are invaluable in participants. While the generosity of the Alabama. making Nutley a dynamic, involved township. Sheetz family is worth highlighting, I believe This rapid growth is what led our City Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in hon- Professor Bon also deserves appreciation for Leaders to have our district lines redrawn. oring the Nutley High School Crew program as her role in making the program a continued The results of these new lines eliminated the they celebrate their 75th Anniversary. success. As the Executive Director of the sole minority-majority district in the city. Changing it’s minority voting percentages f Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence, from about 69 percent down to about 28 per- Professor Bon has been instrumental in exe- TRIBUTE TO RYAN JENSEN cent. cuting the program’s important mission of After submitting these changes to the De- teaching and mentoring students to be tomor- partment Of Justice for pre-clearance, they HON. DAVID YOUNG row’s key decision-makers and to impart in were rejected because the DOJ said it clearly OF IOWA them a strong sense of servant leadership. disadvantage the African American Commu- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES On behalf of the 9th Congressional District nity. The City was in an election year and Wednesday, April 13, 2016 of Pennsylvania, I want to thank Professor was order not to hold it election with these new changes by the DOJ. Yet the City Mayor Mr. YOUNG of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise Bon for her commitment to these high ideals chose to continue on with the municipal today to recognize and congratulate Ryan and recognize her success in pursuing them. election. Jensen for being named a 2016 Forty Under Thanks to her and her colleagues at Penn In this election I lost my seat in my dis- 40 honoree by the award-winning central Iowa State Altoona, our community will continue to trict, but learned two days later that the De- publication, Business Record. benefit from the actions and ideas of an ambi- partment of Justice had filed a lawsuit Since 2000, Business Record has under- tious student body. against the city. Outrage was mounting be- cause the African American Community said f taken an exhaustive annual review to identify they had no chance of electing a candidate of a standout group of young leaders in the STATEMENTS GIVEN AT ‘‘RE- their choice. Greater Des Moines Area that are making an STORE THE VOTE: A CONGRES- Changes were made to the city’s plans impact in their communities and their careers. SIONAL FORUM ON THE CUR- after meeting in Washington, DC with the Each year, forty up-and-coming community DOJ and pre-clearance were granted. A new RENT STATE OF VOTING RIGHTS municipal election was held in 2009, resulting and business leaders under 40 years of age IN AMERICA’’ are selected for this prestigious honor based in me winning my seat again. I know with- on a combined criteria of community involve- out a doubt this would not have happened if HON. TERRI A. SEWELL the VRA, (especially the pre-clearance sec- ment and success in their chosen career field. tion), didn’t protect the most vulnerable. The 2016 class of Forty Under 40 honorees OF ALABAMA STATEMENT OF J. RICHARD COHEN, PRESIDENT, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES will join an impressive roster of 640 business SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER leaders and growing. Wednesday, April 13, 2016 Good afternoon. The fact that we must be As Vice President of CBRE/Hubbell Com- here talking about voting rights 51 years mercial, Ryan continuously works hard to be Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, the statements found below were given during an after Congress passed the Voting Rights Act one of the best, most recognized leaders with- is a national disgrace, one that dishonors the in the real estate investment industry. He event titled—Restore the Vote: A Congres- many who fought for the precious right to works tirelessly to provide accurate, high qual- sional Forum on the Current State of Voting vote and the millions who were ity investment information for his clients and Rights in America. The forum was held on disenfranchised for decades in our country will take that expertise to start a new real es- Saturday, March 5, 2016 in the Birmingham because of their race. It particularly dis- tate investment platform later this year. Ryan City Council Chambers located at Birmingham honors the brave Americans who sacrificed City Hall. The forum provided elected officials, their lives so that everyone, regardless of is also passionate about giving back to his race, creed or color, could have a voice in our community and serves on the board of direc- community leaders, scholars, and the general public the opportunity to examine modern-day democracy—people like Jimmie Lee Jack- tors for Variety—The Children’s Charity. son, Viola Liuzzo, James Chaney, Andrew Mr. Speaker, it is a profound honor to rep- voting rights as well as discuss the current Goodman and Michael Schwerner. resent leaders like Ryan in the United States challenges and barriers facing equal access to A year ago at this time, we were cele- Congress and it is with great pride that I rec- the ballot box. Discussions also focused on brating the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sun- ognize and applaud him for utilizing his talents how community leaders and average Amer- day. And, of course, we will observe the 51 to better both his community and the great ican citizens can galvanize support around en- anniversary in two days. We all know that suring every American is able to exercise their the events of that fateful day and the subse- state of Iowa. I ask that my colleagues in the quent completion of the march to Mont- United States House of Representatives join constitutionally protected right to vote. The forum was hosted by Congresswoman gomery led to passage of the Voting Rights me in congratulating Ryan on receiving this Act of 1965, perhaps the crowning achieve- esteemed designation, thanking those at Busi- TERRI A. SEWELL, and included special guests ment of the civil rights movement—one that ness Record for their great work, and wishing Rep. JOHN LEWIS, Rep. JIM CLYBURN, Rep. drove the final nail into the coffin of Jim each member of the 2016 Forty Under 40 G.K. BUTTERFIELD, Rep. SHEILA JACKSON LEE, Crow. class a long and successful career. Rep. BARBARA LEE, Rep. HANK JOHNSON, Rep. Forty-one years later, in 2006, when it re- KAREN BASS, Rep. MARC VEASEY, and Rep. authorized Section 4, Congress remarked on f STACEY PLASKETT, Birmingham Mayor William the tremendous progress that had been made RECOGNIZING PROFESSOR DONNA Bell, and Birmingham City Council President under the Act to address first-generation J. BON OF PENN STATE AL- Johnathan Austin. The panelists included Jef- barriers to voting—like literacy tests and TOONA FOR HER ENTREPRE- poll taxes—that kept many minority voters ferson County Clerk of Court Anne Marie from casting ballots. NEURIAL SPIRIT Adams, President of Southern Poverty Law At the same time, Congress noted that Center Richard Cohen, Metro Birmingham vestiges of discrimination continued in the HON. BILL SHUSTER Branch NAACP President Hezekiah Jackson states covered by the original Act in the OF PENNSYLVANIA the IV, Calera, Alabama City Councilman Er- form of second-generation barriers that di- luted the voting strength of African Ameri- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES nest Montgomery, and President of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies cans and other minorities. These included Wednesday, April 13, 2016 Spencer Overton. such practices as gerrymandering, at-large Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voting and the use of multimember legisla- STATEMENT OF COUNCILMAN ERNEST MONT- tive districts. recognize Professor Donna J. Bon, of Penn GOMERY, THE CITY OF CALERA’S 2008 MUNIC- Today, 10 years later, we still have those State Altoona, for her commitment to bol- IPAL ELECTION second-generation barriers. For example, the stering the entrepreneurial spirit within Penn My name is Ernest Montgomery and I am Alabama legislature in 2012 passed a redis- State Altoona and the Sheetz Fellows Pro- a City Councilman, representing District 2 in tricting plan that packed black voters into gram. the City of Calera Alabama. Our City is a legislative districts, thereby reducing their

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:12 Apr 14, 2016 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13AP8.043 E13APPT1 smartinez on DSK9F6TC42PROD with REMARKS