[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 202 (Friday, December 21, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE GREATER HARLEM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ADRIANO ESPAILLAT

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 21, 2018

  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following 
Proclamation in honor of The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce:
  Whereas, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce has been a steadfast 
presence in Harlem since its establishment in 1896 originally chartered 
as the Harlem Board of Commerce; and later to the Uptown Chamber of 
Commerce to better represent itself as the first and ongoing business 
organization in Upper Manhattan; and now as the omnipresent Greater 
Harlem Chamber of Commerce;
  Whereas, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce has been committed to 
Harlem and Upper Manhattan with a demonstrated focus on commercial 
development, educational services, as well as special attention to arts 
& culture, travel, and tourism;
  Whereas, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce for over 130 years 
has been a key community stakeholder integral to the development of 
major infrastructure including the construction of the George 
Washington and Tri-Borough Bridges connecting Manhattan to the outer 
boroughs and New Jersey and New York's first subway line, the IRT (No. 
2 & 3 Train);
  Whereas, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce brought Harlem out of 
the Great Depression and into the national discourse as a beacon of 
social-commentary and expression through the Harlem Renaissance and 
home to the 1939 World's Fair;
  Whereas, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce has been at the 
vanguard of the development and revitalization of Harlem including 
Strivers Gardens, an extraordinary example of mixed-use residential and 
commercial development projects, and the Striver's Center Development 
Project that has been a tremendous benefit to the community at large;
  Whereas, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce to elevate Harlem, 
created a singular celebration of Harlem's unique culture and history 
which began as ``Harlem Day'' and has since grown and scale and breadth 
to ``HARLEM WEEK''. This extraordinary celebration of Harlem Life 
features a diversity of cultural events: Afro-Cuban, Gospel, R & B, and 
Jazz music, sports, cinema, business fairs and vintage automobiles, and 
a unique ``Taste of Harlem'' at local eateries and clubs. In 2017, 
Harlem Week attracted more than 3.5 million people. In 2018, it 
included the celebration of Aretha Franklin's legacy and featuring 
Janet Jackson as an honoree;
  Whereas, The visionary leadership including Lloyd Williams, President 
and CEO; Voza Rivers, 1st Vice President; Andrew Reddick; Michele 
Scott; and, Valerie Roberson among others who have lent their talent 
and passion to the concern for the next generation; acknowledging 
historical contributions of Women and LGBTQ in the African-American 
community as well as creating opportunities for recruiting youth to be 
trainees for Wall Street firms;
  Now, therefore I, Adriano Espaillat, Representative of the Thirteenth 
Congressional District of New York in the United States House of 
Representatives, do hereby recognize The Greater Harlem Chamber of 
Commerce and its long history and contributions to the vitality of 
Harlem's economic growth, arts & culture, educational institutions, 
health awareness, and mixed-use residential-commercial developments as 
well as to the creation of HARLEM WEEK which has a local and global 
impact, and commitment to strengthening ties to the Harlem community 
during the ``End of the Year'' Holiday Gala Reception, on Tuesday, 
December 18 2018.

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