[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 8, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H1335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING JOHN ``POPS'' ARTHUR, SR.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Cardenas) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor John Arthur, Sr., 
a beloved San Fernando Valley leader whom we lost earlier this year. 
Pops, as many of his students called him, was known by Men's Journal 
Magazine as the toughest man in America.
  Born in Starkville, Mississippi, Pops attended Clark Atlanta 
University with an athletic scholarship. He met the love of his life, 
Jeraldine, and they had a beautiful daughter, Jonvette. He worked as an 
underground bare-knuckle fighter with a black belt in various martial 
arts. He also worked as an undercover FBI agent and had various public 
safety roles.
  After the passing of his wife, Pops moved to southern California with 
his beautiful daughter. There, he worked as a trainer with fitness 
personality Billy Blanks and trained various world champion fighters 
such as James Toney.
  However, after a vibrant career training some of the world's most 
recognizable names, Pops found his true calling when he began coaching 
at-risk youth for free. He impacted countless families in our community 
by training their little children about life--not about fighting, but 
about life.
  Pops dedicated his life to helping others and creating champions. A 
legend himself, Pops was truly a force of good in our community and in 
our world. For many reasons, I honor the life of the toughest man in 
America, John ``Pops'' Arthur.


                 United States Remains a Beacon of Hope

  Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to 
speak before the House, and it is an honor to be a Member of this 
prestigious body. With that, I would like to take the opportunity to 
explain and exclaim how our hearts in America go out to the people of 
Ukraine as they fear for their lives and they flee this tragedy that is 
caused by Russia and Vladimir Putin.
  It is unfortunate that there are many people around the world right 
now as we speak who have, unfortunately, had to flee their country, 
flee their homes, in fear of people like Vladimir Putin and others who 
create atrocities on them, their communities, and their country.
  I want to just remind everybody that the United States of America 
continues to be the beacon of hope, light, and life for everyone who 
needs to seek asylum. There are opportunities for us and many, many 
great countries around the world to embrace these people who are 
fleeing these unspeakable horrors.
  It is very important for us to understand that we are great when our 
arms are open. We are great when we receive those who are less 
fortunate. We are great, and our greatness comes from so many of us who 
come from families who fled their country, who left atrocities so that 
they can have a new life for them, but more importantly, for the next 
generation, the next, and the next.
  Once again, the United States of America shall always remain the 
place where people can seek refuge when they are fleeing atrocities 
like we are witnessing in Ukraine and other parts of the world.

                          ____________________