[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 4, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H4886-H4888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR A CELEBRATION OF THE 
            100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 335) 
authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for a celebration of the 
100th anniversary of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 335

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR 100TH ANNIVERSARY 
                   CELEBRATION OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, 
                   INCORPORATED.

       (a) In General.--Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated 
     (in this resolution referred to as the ``sponsor''), shall be 
     permitted to sponsor a public event (in this resolution 
     referred to as the ``event'') on the Capitol Grounds to 
     celebrate the 100th anniversary of Alpha Kappa Alpha 
     Sorority, Incorporated.
       (b) Date of Event.--The event shall be held on July 17, 
     2008, or on such other date as the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration 
     of the Senate jointly designate.

     SEC. 2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

       (a) In General.--Under conditions to be prescribed by the 
     Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board, the 
     event shall be--
       (1) free of admission charge and open to the public; and
       (2) arranged not to interfere with the needs of Congress.
       (b) Expenses and Liabilities.--The sponsor shall assume 
     full responsibility for all expenses and liabilities incident 
     to all activities associated with the event.

     SEC. 3. EVENT PREPARATIONS.

       Subject to the approval of the Architect of the Capitol, 
     the sponsor is authorized to erect upon the Capitol Grounds 
     such stage, sound amplification devices, and other related 
     structures and equipment as may be required for the event.

     SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIONS.

       The Capitol Police Board shall provide for enforcement of 
     the restrictions contained in section 5104(c) of title 40, 
     United States Code, concerning sales, advertisements, 
     displays, and solicitations on the Capitol Grounds, as well 
     as other restrictions applicable to the Capitol Grounds, in 
     connection with the event.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Kuhl) each will control 20 minutes.

[[Page H4887]]

  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to 
revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous materials 
on H. Con. Res. 335.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 
such time as I might consume.
  House Concurrent Resolution 335, introduced by my friend and sorority 
sister, Ms. Diane Watson from California, is a bill to authorize the 
use of the Capitol Grounds for the 100th anniversary of the Alpha Kappa 
Alpha Sorority, and this anniversary event is scheduled for July 17, 
2008. The event coordinators will work with the office of the Architect 
of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board regarding staging the event 
with all events on the Capitol Grounds, and will be free and open to 
the public.
  This sorority was founded on the campus of Howard University 100 
years ago. Ms. Diane Watson is a 50-year member. I'm a 35-year life 
member. And it was founded by nine visionary young women at the time, 
Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, Anna Easter Brown, Beulah Burke, Lillie Burke, 
Marjorie Hill, Margaret Flagg Holmes, Lavinia Norman, Lucy Slowe and 
Marie Woolfolk Taylor. The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is the oldest 
Greek-letter organization established for African American college-
trained women.
  The formation of the sorority during this moment in American history 
is significant because it helped jump-start a movement of educated 
African American women who were resolute and determined to eliminate 
barriers for African Americans at a time when opportunities were 
limited for minorities.
  These courageous young women, one generation removed from slavery, 
were the forebears of an entity that has progressively evolved into an 
organization of 200,000 plus members and 975 chapters in both the U.S. 
and abroad.
  Today, membership in this organization represents a diverse 
constituency of women, from educators to heads of state, politicians, 
lawyers, medical professionals, media personalities, decision-makers of 
major corporations.
  Built upon the principle of service, scholarship and sisterhood, 
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority extensively works to improve social and 
economic conditions through community partnerships and programs. These 
cornerstone values of the sorority will be on full display in the 
coming weeks as members, young and old, from across the globe come to 
our Nation's capital to honor the organization's 100th anniversary.
  More than 20,000 members of the sorority will converge upon 
Washington, DC from July 11 until July 18. Members will participate in 
a variety of empowerment forums, lectures, workshops, community service 
activities centered on these principles throughout the length of the 
convention.
  During this week-long celebration, members will reflect on 100 years 
of achievement, enjoy the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood, and look to 
the future as the organization prepares for the challenges of the next 
100 years.
  As a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, I extend my 
congratulations and very best wishes to all of my sorors as they gather 
here in our Nation's Capital, birthplace of our sorority, to pay 
tribute to 100 years of service, scholarship and sisterhood.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this 
resolution authorizing the use of Capitol Grounds for the celebration 
of the 100th anniversary of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, 
Incorporated.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KUHL of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  This resolution authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the 
100th anniversary celebration of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. AKA, Alpha 
Kappa Alpha, was founded in 1908 on the campus of Howard University, 
right here in Washington, DC. The sorority performs various community 
service projects and encourages its members to contribute to the 
community, while pursuing academic excellence.
  The centennial program on the Capitol Grounds will be just one part 
of the year-long celebration. The event will be free and open to the 
public.
  Alpha Kappa Alpha will assume liability for accidents and will be 
responsible for event costs in accordance with the policies of the 
Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police.
  While we debate this concurrent resolution, which is strictly a 
managerial responsibility of this Congress, people across the country 
are worrying about how they will afford their next trip to the gas 
station, and not about this particular celebration.
  Since the Democrats took over Congress, the price of gasoline has 
increased more than a $1.50 a gallon. It's unfortunate, but Democrats 
seem to ignore the law of supply and demand.
  What you've heard here previously on the resolution before the House 
dealt with opening up the supply that's immediately available in this 
country, American energy supply. The current majority has done nothing 
to increase energy supplies, and then wonder why gas prices continue to 
soar. It is simply unbelievable that the Democrat majority refuses to 
debate the skyrocketing costs of fuel.
  Madam Speaker, while I do support this resolution and request my 
colleagues to be likewise supportive, I would reserve the balance of my 
time at this time.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes 
to Representative Diane Watson of California.
  Ms. WATSON. I want to thank the gentlewoman from Texas.
  I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 335 which authorizes the use 
of the Capitol Grounds on Thursday, July 17, for a celebration of the 
100th anniversary of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
  In January of this year, the sorority began its year-long celebration 
of its 100-year anniversary. Founded in 1908 on the campus of Howard 
University in Washington, DC, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated 
is the first Greek-letter organization founded by African American 
college women.
  Alpha Kappa Alpha is a sisterhood of women who have consciously 
chosen to improve the socioeconomic conditions in their city, in their 
State, in the Nation and in the world. Its history tells a story of 
changing patterns of human relations in America in the 20th Century. 
The small group who organized the sorority was just 1 generation 
removed from slavery.
  Through the years, the sorority directed its efforts towards 
improving the quality of life for all mankind, while living our 
sorority's motto, ``by culture and by merit.''
  I am so proud to count myself and Eddie Bernice Johnson as members 
and proud members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Throughout the years, 
I have witnessed firsthand how the power, vision and commitment of our 
founders and members have inspired Alpha Kappa Alpha to endure and 
prosper through 10 decades.
  I encourage my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 335, which will 
ensure that a vital component of the 100th anniversary celebration will 
take place on these distinguished grounds of the United States Capitol.
  I want you to know, our membership is very tuned in to the issues 
that we face domestically and we face internationally. And they would 
want to see all of us be able to benefit from the legislation that is 
passing both Chambers and going to the Governor to reduce the prices of 
oil, to address our infrastructure, to provide the right to health care 
for every American, to be sure that Americans can receive and realize 
the American dream to home ownership.
  I am so proud to stand here in support of H. Con. Res. 335, to allow 
our membership to come in and get into this progressive atmosphere and 
to celebrate their 100th year of existence.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 
335, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for a celebration of 
the 100th anniversary of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. I am 
pleased to support this resolution and recognize the contributions that 
the Alpha Kappa

[[Page H4888]]

Alpha Sorority has made to strengthening networks that cut across 
racial, geographical, political, and social barriers. This event is a 
fitting tribute to the organization and I congratulate the sorority on 
its 100th anniversary.
  The commitment of Alpha Kappa Alpha members to public service is long 
and legendary. The sorority has evolved over its 100-year history from 
a college-based organization in support of young women in their 
intellectual and cultural development to an organization that dedicates 
itself to a variety of humanitarian programs.
  These programs include the Mississippi Health Project, the 
Educational Advancement Foundation, and the IVY AKAdemy. The IVY 
AKAdemy program promotes early learning and mastery of basic reading 
skills, enhances the school experience of children and young people 
through hundreds of local programs around the country and in South 
Africa. For members of AKA, community service and sisterhood are life-
long commitments. Many members of Alpha Kappa Alpha stay active in the 
organization for more than 50 years.
  It is fitting that the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority celebrates its 
100th anniversary here on Capitol Hill.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in agreeing to H. Con. Res. 335.
  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Con. Res. 335, a bill to authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds 
for the 100th anniversary celebration of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, 
Incorporated.
  Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was founded on January 15th, 1908 by nine 
visionary women at Howard University. As America's first Greek-letter 
sorority founded by and for African American women to improve life for 
all African Americans, Alpha Kappa Alpha is truly celebrating a long 
tradition of commitment to sisterhood and service.
  Driven by these noble ideals, Alpha Kappa Alpha has evolved into one 
of the world's leading service organizations with 975 chapters and 
approximately 200,000 members worldwide. One of those members, in 
particular, is near and dear to my heart. Mariama Carson, my lovely 
wife shares in the unique bond that is found among the sisters of Alpha 
Kappa Alpha Sorority. I truly believe her dedication to service was 
fostered through her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha, and has helped 
her development as an accomplished and successful teacher in 
Indianapolis. She, like many of her fellow sorors, chose Alpha Kappa 
Alpha as a means of self-growth through volunteer service.
  Madam Speaker, AKA's have touched the stars of our universe through 
members like Dr. Mae Jemison and have brought conscience to this body 
through members like Congresswoman Shelia Jackson-Lee and Ms. Erika 
Barrera, Communications Director for Congressman Bruce Braley. But 
their stories are not isolated cases.
  Throughout its 100 years of history, Alpha Kappa Alpha is full of 
women who have emerged as leaders in their professions and communities. 
Through distinguished members like Liberian President Ellen Johnson-
Sirleaf; actress Phylicia Rashad; and the 102-year-old Mrs. Hazel 
Hainsworth Young, one of the Sorority's most senior members, Alpha 
Kappa Alpha has and will continue to be an organization of focused and 
compassionate women committed to changing the world.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud and honored to support this resolution; 
because I believe this sorority has and will continue to be an amazing 
organization that helps to better communities around the world. I hope 
all my colleagues will join me in granting Alpha Kappa Alpha the use of 
the Capitol Grounds and supporting their 100 year anniversary.
  Mr. KUHL of New York. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I urge support of 
this resolution, and I yield back the balance of our time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
335.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________