[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 111 (Wednesday, July 16, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1176-E1177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE INTRODUCTION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY 
                               RESOLUTION

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. JOHN LEWIS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 16, 2014

  Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Phi Beta 
Sigma Fraternity's centennial anniversary. My good friend, the 
Gentlewoman from Louisiana (Ms. Landrieu) and the Gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Cardin), is sponsoring the Senate companion to this 
resolution.
  As a Sigma brother, I am proud that this fraternity has grown into a 
worldwide institution.

[[Page E1177]]

One hundred years ago, A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and 
Charles I. Brown founded the fraternity at Howard University. These men 
were committed to the idea of ``Culture For Service and Service for 
Humanity.'' They believed that all potential members ought to be judged 
by their own merits. Family background, wealth, race, and nationality 
are irrelevant to a prospective brother's worth; instead, the 
fraternity built a brotherhood of individuals who shared a deep 
commitment to service, education, and brotherhood.
  Today, Phi Beta Sigma continues to build upon its founding principles 
and expand its legacy across the country and around the globe. With 
more than 150,000 college-educated Sigma brothers and 650 chapters, the 
fraternity organizes many service projects and missions. These include: 
Sigma Beta Club, equipping youths with leadership skills; Project Vote, 
which encourages voter registration; Sigma Wellness: Living Well 
Brother-to-Brother, an initiative seeking to eliminate health 
disparities for men of color; and the Ghana School Project, which 
provides vocational opportunities for children worldwide. As many of 
you know, these are just a few examples of Sigma contributions to 
American society and our brothers and sisters around the world.
  This week, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Phi Beta 
Sigma Fraternity's historic centennial anniversary and congratulating 
the Sigma brothers for a century of service to all Americans.

                          ____________________