[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 43 (Monday, March 8, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1083-H1084]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF ROBERT HOLTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bacon) for 5 minutes.

[[Page H1084]]

  

  Mr. BACON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the passing of 
Omaha's last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, Robert Holts, who passed away 
on February 12 at his retirement home in Bellevue.
  He joined the still-segregated U.S. Army in November 1942, and 
quickly landed in an aviation training program that would lead to a 
slot in the 332nd Fighter Group known as the Tuskegee Airmen. Not only 
did he and other members make history as the first all-Black unit, but 
they also made history through their exemplary service, and they 
changed America for the better and forever.
  The famed Tuskegee Airmen protected Allied bombers during the last 2 
years of World War II. They were the first group of African-American 
military pilots and airmen in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and Holts was 
one of the 21 Tuskegee Airmen that had ties to Omaha.
  Holts continually surmounted the challenges of racism, segregation 
policies, and the Great Depression faced in his life.
  Born in 1924, Holts attended Kellom Elementary School and Omaha 
Central High School. Holts had a strong high school record, and he was 
given the opportunity to join an aviation program that flew P-51 
Mustangs. They became known as the Tuskegee Airmen, a nod to the name 
of the base they trained at. More than 15,000 missions were flown by 
the Tuskegee Airmen, and they destroyed 261 German aircraft.

  After the war, Holts worked as a U.S. Postal Service employee for 
nearly 40 years before settling in North Omaha near family. A little 
more than 60 years later, Holts and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen were 
awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their heroic actions in World 
War II. Not only have they been lauded for their actions as fighters 
for our country in a world war, but as fighters for civil rights for 
all.
  Our country is better and stronger because of the Tuskegee Airmen and 
heroes like Robert Holts. We shall always remember the legacy of Robert 
Holts.


                   Honoring Gina Ponce and B.C. Clark

  Mr. BACON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor two women from our 
district for Women's History Month because of their commitment to 
advancing opportunities and experiences for women. Gina Ponce and B.C. 
Clark are historymakers, as they work to empower women in our 
community.
  Born and raised in the Bronx, Gina has been in Nebraska for 25 years 
and is the mother of two sons and grandmother to one granddaughter. She 
credits her father as her inspiration in serving others, as he led by 
example in his service to the community.
  Gina has been in her current position as director of Latino community 
outreach at Bellevue University since 2015, where she is responsible 
for managing outreach and admissions including the Latino community.
  She sees her two biggest accomplishments as founding the Women on a 
Mission nonprofit 11 years ago and opening the El Camino Latino Center 
at Bellevue University. Women on a Mission engages in outreach to build 
up and empower women and girls spiritually, physically, and 
emotionally.
  Recent awards she received include the 2020 Heartland United for 
Puerto Rico Award, the 2017 Women of Color Leadership Award, and the 
2013 Latina of the Year. However, Gina says she sees her award every 
day in the success of those she has helped, and she credits her own 
success to the passion and gifts that come out of the South Omaha 
community.
  Also passionate about assisting women in their visions and dreams is 
the founder and president of the Metro Omaha Women's Business Center, 
B.C. Clark. She continues to inspire women and accelerate their success 
by creating economic opportunities through programs offered by her 
center. Those opportunities include a monthly business forum, quarterly 
Success Series, and various workshops and trade shows to educate, 
inspire, and encourage entrepreneurs and businessowners.
  In 2014, B.C. also started the Business Connection Nebraska, a local 
television show on public access TV, where she showcases businessowners 
from across the State. She is also a well-respected speaker and mentor 
for several community and minority business groups, where her knowledge 
of how to increase profitability and operational efficiency, as well as 
satisfy customer expectations, has helped many businessowners excel 
professionally.
  In addition, B.C. volunteers at Carole's House of Hope, where she 
mentors inner-city young women. She is a former president of the 
Midlands Latino Community Development Center, encouraging and promoting 
Latino businesses.
  B.C. credits her faith as a factor in her own achievement and is 
quick to recognize others who have helped her in her quest to help 
others find success. She also recognizes that a belief in yourself will 
make you successful. As she told her own granddaughters: ``You don't 
have to wait for a man to give you a diamond ring. If you want it, you 
can work for it.''
  Both Gina Ponce and B.C. Clark are role models not only for women, 
but for our community, as they have demonstrated their service to help 
others succeed. Because of leaders such as they, the numbers of 
businesses owned by women in the United States has increased by 114 
percent in the last 20 years, and 64 percent of new women-owned 
businesses were started by women of color.

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