[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 164 (Wednesday, December 19, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H7269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING EMANUEL CLEAVER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. David Scott) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. I rise to join some of my fellow 
colleagues in recognizing and honoring a distinguished gentleman 
serving in the Congress of the United States, who is the chairman of 
the Congressional Black Caucus, and that is Representative Reverend 
Emanuel Cleaver.
  God has a way of having the right person serve at the right time and 
in the right place, and we have such a person in our chairman, Chairman 
Cleaver. Chairman Cleaver took office at a time of great turmoil and 
tumultuousness. This country was experiencing and we were at the height 
of perhaps the most devastating financial crisis since the Great 
Depression.

                              {time}  1020

  Chairman Cleaver turned that situation into a tremendous positive by 
bringing his insightfulness and by helping to share with the entire 
Nation that while we did have great economic calamity, for every sector 
in our economy nowhere was that damage as greatly felt as in the 
African American community. We were blessed to have a chairman who 
could articulate it with the sensitivity and with the intelligence and 
with the intellect to be able to express those very serious concerns 
that were impacting the African American community in a way and in a 
manner that it enveloped the entirety of the entire population of our 
country.
  Chairman Cleaver became chairman at the time of the height of the 
tumultuous health care debate, where there was great passions that were 
brought to bear and expressions of demonstration where hundreds of 
thousands of people gathered here in Washington to express their 
concerns. But Chairman Cleaver provided a calmness, an impact that 
helped us to navigate those troubled waters very, very successfully.
  When it came time to look at the disparities of this economic impact 
and joblessness, he initiated job fairs in every congressional district 
all across this country that helped people be able to get jobs. He 
addressed the health disparities--particularly as they impacted the 
African American community--in a way and in a manner that everyone was 
able to accept the reality.
  So, we thank you, Congressman Cleaver, for the outstanding job that 
you have done, and we want to thank God for sending the right person to 
us at the right time. Thank you, Chairman Cleaver. It is my great honor 
to serve with you. Thank you for your outstanding service.

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