[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 15, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H248-H249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING ZENA CARDMAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Ms. Zena Cardman, a recent graduate of NASA's Astronaut Candidate Class 
XXII, and a native of Urbana, Illinois.
  Zena was selected in 2017 from a pool of more than 18,000 applicants 
as some of the brightest and most skilled minds in the country. The 
past 2 years of training and her graduation from candidate school 
earned her the title of astronaut, and she is now eligible for 
spaceflight.
  As a new grad, Zena will support NASA's current missions, such as the 
work aboard the International Space Station, the Commercial Crew 
Program, and the Artemis Program, which has set a goal of sending 
humans back to the Moon by 2024.
  I am proud to recognize Zena today as one of the best minds in space 
exploration. I know she will be an invaluable asset to NASA. I extend a 
well-deserved congratulations to Zena and congratulate her on her 
graduation. I thank her for all she has done.


                       Remembering Frank Mitchell

  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember 
Frank Mitchell, a native of Springfield, Illinois, and the first 
African American House of Representatives page since Reconstruction. As 
a student at Feitshans High School, Frank was asked to interview for a 
position as a page for then-Congressman Paul Findley. When the school 
principal, my good friend, Irv Smith, called to say they had selected 
Frank, according to articles just recently, Frank said he went out and 
he bought some suits, got a haircut, and headed for Washington.
  After his year-long stint as a House page, Frank graduated from 
Feitshans in 1967 and went on to work as a newspaper and TV reporter 
before accepting positions with the Illinois Attorney General's Office 
and eventually Cook County's Stroger Hospital. He is well-known across 
the State for his work with the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative.
  Congressman Paul Findley's son, Craig, who now chairs the Illinois 
Prison Review Board, said Frank's appointment to the House as a page 
was one of his father's proudest accomplishments. Frank brought credit 
to the page system, Craig said, and I admired him for his service and 
his friendship for decades.
  Almost everyone that knew Frank felt that way. They admired him for 
his service and his friendship. Frank was a well-loved part of the 
Springfield community for years. I had the opportunity to meet many of 
his family members and also those who helped Frank, and who Frank 
helped through his career in public service when I went to his services 
in Springfield just a few weeks ago.
  For so many, Frank was a role model, he was a mentor, and he is part 
of the history in this institution that so many of us have had the 
opportunity to serve in this great Nation in the House of 
Representatives.

[[Page H249]]

  The House of Representatives is a better place because of Frank 
Mitchell and Washington, D.C., is a better place because of Frank 
Mitchell. Everybody that knew Frank Mitchell knows that their life has 
been blessed.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Frank for his service, and he will be missed.

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