Media

Mr. Speaker, Mr. William Garth, Sr. is the Chairman of the Chicago Citizen Newspaper Group Inc., Garthco, Inc. and founder/chairman of the QBG Foundation as well as chairman of the Chatham Business Association. Mr. Garth is the guiding force behind what is known as the largest Black-owned ABC audited newspaper in America. There is no other respected audit better than ABC.

Mr. Speaker, on October 30, 2016 the St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding. St. Volodymyr is a part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and was established in 1916 as the first independent Ukrainian Church in the United States. The centennial celebration will take place on the 30th day of October 2016, starting with the Hierarchal Dinner Liturgy, led by his eminence metropolitan Anthony and his grace Bishop Daniel at 10:00 am at St.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding individual, Lydia de La Vina de Foley, who will step down this month as Executive Director of the Congressional Club after more than four decades of service to this important federally chartered institution. Lydia first began her work at the Congressional Club as a volunteer illustrator of the Club’s Bicentennial Congressional Club Cookbook in 1975. In 1977, she was asked to come on full time as Secretary to the Club.

I am extremely saddened and disappointed by Governor Rauner's veto of SB250 the Automatic Voter Registration bill. It has been estimated that up to two million Illinoisans could be added to the voter rolls if this legislation were to go into effect.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to pay tribute to Arnie F. Bryant— a loving family man and community leader whom I and others called friend. This year marks the eighth anniversary of Arnie’s homegoing on April 8, 2008. His family will honor him this month with a trip to Washington, DC. Arnie was a fierce supporter of President Barack Obama and encouraged political discussions via his radio program, View Points from the Other Side. Unfortunately, Arnie was called home before he could witness the historic election and inauguration of our 44th President.

Mr. Speaker, every year people all over the country acknowledge National Recovery Month. National Recovery Month recognizes the many thousands of individuals who have successfully recovered from substance use and abuse. There are millions of people at 12 step classes, Alcoholics Anonymous, and other recovery programs meeting every hour of the day and every day of the week. It reminds me of what Henry David Thoreau said, ‘‘I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man [person] to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor’’.

Statement of Congressman Danny K. Davis on Recent Events in Minnesota, Louisiana and Texas

Over the past few days America has confronted in a most visible way an horrific spasm of gun violence intertwined with race and law enforcement. The shooting of Philando Castile in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights and Alton B. Sterling, in Baton Rouge followed by the shooting of 5 Dallas police officers have once again forced us to face head on the underlying causes and enablers of such violence.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Laquan McDonald, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.