[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 147 (Tuesday, August 18, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E771-E772]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING ERRICK D. SIMMONS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 18, 2020

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable public servant, Mr. Errick D. Simmons.
  After a historic landslide win for mayor in 2015, Mayor Errick D. 
Simmons, the first black male mayor of the City of Greenville, 
Mississippi, won re-election to his second term as mayor in 2019 
without facing an opposing candidate. Mayor Errick D. Simmons began his 
career in municipal government as a city councilman in 2007, as the 
youngest to serve in the position at that time.
  Before returning home to Greenville to start his legal and municipal 
government career, Simmons graduated salutatorian in his class at T.L. 
Weston High School in 1995, second to his twin brother and law partner, 
Mississippi State Senator Derrick T. Simmons, who is the Senate 
Minority Leader for Democratic Party. Simmons later studied at Jackson 
State University, where he received a Bachelor in Business 
Administration in Economics in 2000. In 2002, he received a Master's in 
Arts in Economics from Howard University Graduate School of Arts and 
Sciences and received his Juris Doctorate from Howard University School 
of Law in 2005.
  While at Howard University School of Law, Simmons was team captain of 
the Howard University Huver I. Brown Trial Advocacy Team, the first 
HBCU law school to win the American Bar Association Competition, 
defeating two-time reigning champion Harvard University. This historic 
win was placed in the Congressional Record, and featured across 
national media outlets including but not limited to Chicago Defender, 
Dallas Examiner, Ebony, and Jet Magazine.
  Currently, Simmons serves as a member of several local, state, and 
national boards and organizations, to name a few: President, 
Mississippi Delta Mayors Association, 1st Vice President of Mississippi 
Municipal League (MML) (to be sworn in as President in June 2021), Vice 
President of Delta Council, Mississippi Economic Council Board of 
Governors, Boys Scouts of America, U.S. Conference of Mayors, National 
League of Cities, life member of NAACP, life member of Magnolia Bar 
Association, life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., board 
member of Mississippi Association of Justice, Mississippi Bar 
Association, and Chairman of Washington County Democratic Executive 
Committee.
  In the Christian spirit of unity, Mayor Simmons pushed a message of 
``One People, One Goal, and One Greenville: We are One'' to promote 
unity and foster togetherness when he became mayor in 2016. The 
community has taken on the call to unify and work more collectively for 
a better Greenville. Keeping God as the center of his administration, 
Simmons first initiative was a faith-based one entitled, ``Worship on 
the Water'' where faith-based leaders across the Mississippi Delta 
joined him for such announcement. Worship on the Water is a nationally 
recognized, interfaith, interracial initiative that fosters community 
and promote unity on the fifth Sunday, of every month purposed on 
bringing people together regardless of racial identity or religious 
affiliation. Simmons states, ``Psalm 100 demands us to make a joyful 
noise unto the Lord. On the fifth Sunday of every month, residents and 
citizens come and worship at the water on our levee front to make a 
joyful noise together in corporate worship. Folks are not restricted by 
the color of their skin nor confined by their churches' addresses. We 
come to exalt God as one community.'' Worship on the Water received the 
U.S. Conference of Mayors' 2017 City Livability Outstanding Achievement 
Award presented by President Bill Clinton.
  In the name of social justice, racial equity, and inclusion for all, 
the very first order of business for Mayor Simmons as Mayor of 
Greenville was the removal of the Mississippi State flag containing the 
confederate emblem from all municipal buildings in January of 2016.
  Simmons later announced the City's first ever re-entry program 
entitled, Greenville Re-Entry and Training Program (GREAT), a program 
aimed to hire and train returning citizens throughout the City. The 
City of Greenville hired its very first returning citizen on March 1, 
2018. Under his administration as mayor, Greenville has announced more 
than $200 million in local, state, federal, and corporate investments 
including the announcement of a $40.1 million new federal courthouse; a 
$71.46 million Greenville Freight Corridor Bypass from the 
Infrastructure for Rebuilding America program; $25 million MARS Uncle 
Ben's R & D Investment; a $9.l million redevelopment of the Sears, 
Roebuck & Company building to include a boutique hotel, microbrewery, 
downtown restaurant, and butcher shop.
  In August 2018, an estimated 100 new jobs were announced through 
economic development projects. Nufarm announced 68 manufacturing jobs 
with a $20 million investment, the first such announcement in 
Greenville since Textron in 2004. Tru by Hilton announced an 84 room 
hotel with 30 jobs with an estimated $10 million investment.
  Some other accomplishments in his administration are worth noting: 
``Announced the Reserves at Ed Gray, a $6.1 million housing development 
project for low to moderate income families where the City donated a 
city park to create safe and affordable housing.
  Held Model Contractor Development Program in collaboration with 
Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, Mississippi Development Authority, Gene 
Finley with CompuRecycling Center, Inc., and other county and state 
partners.
  Held first-ever Delta Emerging Small Business Conference in 
collaboration with U.S. Small Business Administration, Congressman 
Bennie G. Thompson, and other county and state partners.
  Held City's first ever Small Business and Brunch (B&B) in partnership 
with CompuRecycling Center, Inc., and other local, county, and state 
partners.
  First in Mississippi to offer Manufacturing Skills Basic Course in 
high schools in collaboration with economic development professionals 
and educational institutions.
  Announced Medical Pipeline with Greenville Public School District and 
Delta Regional Medical Center.
  Held National Night Out in partnership with Rural USC and MACE.
  Held Gas for Guns event in an effort to obtain as many guns off the 
streets.
  Began Early College with Mississippi Valley State University.
  Held Delta P2P, an 8th grade technology and career expo for over 
2,000 public, private, and parochial school 8th graders in the 
Mississippi Delta.
  Created the City's first-ever Homelessness Committee to address 
homeless in the community.
  Formed Greenville Community Collaborative Volunteer Group to help 
raise awareness and provide support to residents in need.
  Began 2nd Grade Extravaganza for second graders in public, private, 
and parochial schools to learn how your local government works for you.
  Started city's first-ever reentry program in partnership with Rural 
USC and WCEA.
  City has an EPA sanitary sewer project of more than $100 million to 
fix aging infrastructure.
  Spent over $16 million on sewer and infrastructure repairs.
  Began first-ever Fire and Police Junior Kids Academies.
  Increased Parks and Recreation funding from $190,000 in 2015 to 
$600,000 in 2018, a 300 percent increase in his administration.
  Received $16 million dollars in airport improvements with roundtrip 
commercial air service to Dallas and Atlanta.
  Simmons has been featured on local, state, and national media outlets 
and newspapers for his municipal work and activism, including the 
Washington Post, Washington Times, CNN, Wallstreet Journal, MSNBC, New 
York Times, Epoch Times, Mississippi Business Journal, Associated 
Press, Christian Unity (featured cover story), Delta Business Journal 
(featured cover story), Attorney-at-Law (featured covered story); 
National Public Radio, Mississippi Public Radio, SuperTalk Mississippi, 
WBAD 94.3, Delta Radio 97.7, Keep Hope Alive with Reverend Jesse 
Jackson, Delta Democrat Times, just to name a few.
  Striving to bring consumers onto a level playing field with 
corporations and citizens

[[Page E772]]

under the protection of the Constitution, Mayor and Attorney Errick D. 
Simmons is the cofounder of a personal injury and criminal defense law 
firm that has gained notable successes and a stellar reputation of 
achieving results in and outside the courtroom.
  Simmons, his twin brother, and their law firm cheerfully give to the 
community. Among several other things, the Simmons family sponsors an 
annual Christmas Toy Give-a-way, providing toys to nearly 600 needy 
children and families annually. To date, Simmons family has held their 
toy giveaway for ten consecutive years serving more than 5,000 
children. Additionally, Mayor Simmons financially contributes to both 
Jackson State University, Howard University, and faithbased, 
charitable, civic, and social organizations. He is a mason and member 
of the Greater Springfield Baptist Church in Greenville, Mississippi 
where Mark S. Buckner is pastor. He is the son of the late J.C. 
Simmons, Jr. and Alzena Bruce Simmons. He and his wife, Dr. Temika M. 
Simmons, have three children, Errick, Eriel, and Elin.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. 
Errick D. Simmons for his dedication to serving others and giving back 
to his community

                          ____________________