[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 164 (Wednesday, December 19, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H7274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS CHAIRMAN EMANUEL Cleaver

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let it be very clear, Emanuel 
Cleaver is not retiring from the United States Congress, but we are 
here to thank him for his service to the Congressional Black Caucus as 
chair, but really to the Nation.
  Let me thank my colleagues for gathering this morning to raise a 
voice of crescendo in thanks and appreciation for this man called 
Emanuel Cleaver. His progeny and his ancestors are grateful for the 
mark that he has made on behalf of America.
  Chairman Cleaver speaks eloquently about his origins of hailing from 
Texas and his many relatives who remain there, even those who are in 
the surrounding areas of the 18th Congressional District. He's a proud 
graduate of Prairie View A&M University in Texas, in the surrounding 
area of Houston, Prairie View, Texas. He has a great heritage and 
connectedness to the Black Power movement, and he is a good combination 
of peace, gentleness, firmness, leadership, and courage.
  And I might say that he was a man for these times, just as the Bible 
dictated that Esther was a woman for her time, was there for a time 
such as that. Our chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus found his 
role in a number of challenges that we faced. And if I might paraphrase 
a Biblical story, hopefully I have it nearly right, but I call this 
chairman a modern day Joseph who is able to wear the multicolored coat, 
representing constituencies from all backgrounds and going to represent 
his people in a foreign land. Chairman Cleaver would go to places where 
others had not gone or raise his voice for issues that were unpopular, 
and he did so with the consensus and collaboration of the astute and 
committed members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
  I went to his district, as many of us did. We're proud to see the 
affection, friendship, and love given to him by his constituents. I was 
so interested in what we call the green corridor; so many are looking 
to instill and implement that in their own districts.
  Thank you, Reverend Cleaver, for coming to Houston, Texas, on more 
than one occasion, but particularly to the NAACP banquet when I was 
named a recipient of the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award, 
but more importantly, for your words of diminished return that if, in 
fact, we go to the lowest common denominator, if we don't raise 
ourselves to the highest level of challenge, then it becomes a 
diminished return, if I might paraphrase Chairman Cleaver's words. It 
was a rousing and challenging speech that lifted people off their feet, 
and it caused us to think about what we need to do.
  Finally, as others have spoken of his work on creating jobs for all 
of America, particularly those underserved, where the African American 
job unemployment rate was so high, he was a champion during the debate 
and the challenge of passing the Affordable Care Act, now proudly 
ObamaCare. When we came together that Sunday, March 19, before we had 
to go and vote, it was Chairman Cleaver that led us to a prayer service 
where we worshipped and were renewed. We came back ready to cast our 
votes, to put this great legislation that is going to save lives over 
the top. We did it as a body, as a collective body, and as a group of 
members of the Congressional Black Caucus. And so even preceding his 
time in leadership, he led.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, let me offer my thank-you to this native son of 
Texas, a graduate of Prairie View A&M, one of the great institutions in 
the State of Texas. Let me congratulate his wife and his wonderful 
children and his extended family and all those who have seen in him the 
willingness to sacrifice for others. Thank you, Chairman Cleaver. The 
great news is you're not retiring from this body and your leadership 
for America will continue.

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