[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 79 (Tuesday, May 15, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E655]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      BERNADA BAKER AND PAUL WALL

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 15, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, what do a university teacher and a 
star hip-hop artist have in common? They both care deeply for a young 
girl named Bella.
  Giving back to others comes naturally to Bernada Baker. As a faculty 
member at Texas Southern University, she shapes and molds her students, 
encouraging them to think ``outside the box'' not only about their 
academic work but also about their professional and personal lives. She 
is the founder of the Princess Within, a foundation dedicated to 
empowering young women and giving them the tools necessary to believe 
in themselves and achieve success as professionals, students, and 
friends.
  But her latest act of generosity tops all of her previous charity.
  The devastation of Hurricane Harvey rendered Bella, an innocent 
infant, and her father homeless after the terrible storm swept away the 
car that had been serving as their living space. Desperate for help, 
her father put out a plea on social media for aid in caring for his 
young daughter.
  Baker happened to see his post and volunteered to help babysit the 
infant. She reached out to some of her friends and managed to raise a 
modest sum of money to purchase some clothes and crib for her. She was, 
as she said, ``just trying to help.''
  Baker eventually took Bella into her home as her father began to 
search for employment. As the days passed by, Baker grew to love the 
young girl and eventually found that she wanted to adopt her to be her 
own daughter. Bella's father agreed--it was in his daughter's best 
interest for her to be under Baker's care and thus consented to 
transfer his parental rights.
  The adoption process is long and expensive, and Baker found it 
difficult to raise the money required to officially bring Bella into 
her family.
  Cue Paul Slayton, better known by his stage name Paul Wall as one of 
the most renowned hip-hop artists to come out of Houston. He heard 
about Baker and Bella, and he thought back to the kindness shown to him 
by his stepfather growing up, who decided to adopt him after his 
biological father rejected him. Thus, he decided to come to Baker and 
Bella's aid.
  In conjunction with Cricket Wireless's foundation, Cricket Cares, he 
surprised Baker with several gifts for Bella and a check for $5,000 to 
help her pay to complete the adoption process.
  Mr. Speaker, the largesse of Bernada Baker and Paul Wall is an 
exceptional demonstration of the Golden Rule, and their kindness and 
love for Bella help make America the great country that it is today.
  And that is just the way it is.

                          ____________________