[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 27, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H4515]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                              {time}  1015
                  HONORING THE LEGACY OF ART FRANKLIN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Alabama (Ms. Sewell) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SEWELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a pioneer of 
broadcast journalism, news anchor Art Franklin, who will be making his 
departure from CBS 42 in Birmingham, Alabama, on Friday, April 29.
  Art Franklin is a multiple Emmy Award-winning journalist whose 
broadcast career has spanned more than 38 years and earned him more 
than 100 community and journalism awards, including two Emmy Awards. 
And, most recently, he was awarded an Edward R. Murrow Award in 2021 
for excellence in innovation as anchor of CBS 42's Coronavirus House 
Calls.
  Art currently anchors the CBS 42 Evening News at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 
p.m., and 10 p.m., after returning to Birmingham to anchor the CBS 42 
Morning News with Art Franklin, and served as a managing editor.
  Art first came to Birmingham in 1991 and spent 12 years at WBRC-TV, 
where he was a trailblazer, becoming Birmingham's first African-
American male to anchor in prime time.
  During his career of almost four decades, Art has worked as a radio 
announcer, a radio news director, a production manager, a talk show 
host of both radio and television, a television news producer, host of 
a television public affairs show, and the producer of the National 
Association of Black Journalist Awards show that was aired on BET.
  In addition to his time as a journalist, Art was the CEO of Atlanta-
based independent record company 285 Records.
  The author of a book, ``Give It All You Got,'' Art launched in 2021 
the Art Franklin Collection, a clothing line of men's ties, bow ties, 
shirts, and custom suits.
  Art sits on numerous boards in the State of Alabama. He is an avid 
cook and tennis player, and he is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi 
Fraternity.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Art Franklin for his 
extraordinary career and contributions to broadcast journalism.
  Madam Speaker, I congratulate Art. We in Birmingham are so proud of 
all that he has done, and we wish him much luck in his endeavors.


    Recognizing Princeton Baptist Medical Center's 100th Anniversary

  Ms. SEWELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th 
anniversary of Princeton Baptist Medical Center and Baptist Health 
System in Birmingham, Alabama.
  For a century, the Princeton Baptist Medical Center has been 
dedicated to serving the most vulnerable in our communities by 
prioritizing community health and expanding access to healthcare.
  As a faith-based hospital, Princeton was built on the premise that it 
would provide services to patients, regardless of their ability to pay. 
During its first day of operation, Princeton served 39 patients, with 
11 more admitted by the day's end, without any operating capital.
  Since then, the Princeton Baptist Medical Center began expanding 
rapidly, undergoing multiple major hospital renovations. As the 
hospital's infrastructure grew, so did its network, expanding to meet 
the needs of its patients by adding new departments to expand critical 
services and research, as well as to keep abreast of the latest medical 
developments.
  During the 1990s, additional hospitals joined Princeton Baptist to 
build one of our State's largest and most comprehensive network of 
acute-care hospitals: The Brookwood Baptist Health.
  Since its humble beginnings, Princeton Baptist Medical Center has 
remained active in the community, hosting several residency and 
mentoring programs. It even became the first healthcare center in the 
United States to implement a pastoral education program and student 
internship.
  Now, with more than 230 physicians, an additional 1,700 employees, 
and 505 licensed hospital beds, Princeton Baptist Medical Center 
continues to be a centerpiece in our Birmingham community. I am honored 
to be their partner in our fight to expand healthcare access to all 
Alabamians.
  I am proud to honor Princeton Baptist Medical Center for its profound 
contributions to our community as they celebrate 100 years of service.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Princeton Baptist Medical Center.

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