[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 201 (Wednesday, December 6, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H6152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN MEMORY OF PASTOR CHARLES GILCHRIST ADAMS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Strong). The Chair recognizes the 
gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, Michigan's 12th Congressional District mourns 
the loss of Pastor Charles Gilchrist Adams, a beloved spiritual and 
community leader. He was an activist in our district whose influence 
impacted so many of our lives across the State and the world. He was 
loved and respected by so many.
  Pastor Adams served as a lead pastor for the historic Hartford 
Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit, a role that he held for more than 
50 years.
  As a pastor, he dedicated his life and mission to service, fighting 
for justice for our communities and improving the lives of our 
residents in northwest Detroit. He was a tireless advocate for safe and 
affordable housing for all and childcare for our working families.
  He served as president of the Detroit Branch of the NAACP in 1984, 
and he also served on the executive board until 1992.
  Please join me, Mr. Speaker, in remembering Pastor Charles Gilchrist 
Adams for his incredible advocacy, leadership, and impact on our 
district.
  May he rest in love, and may his legacy live on in our community.

                              {time}  1045


                   Recognizing Dearborn Firefighters

  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, the 12th Congressional District recognizes 
two outstanding members of Dearborn's fire department: Battalion Chief 
Kenneth Murray, for his 26 years of service, and EMS Coordinator Glenn 
Owens, for his 25 years of service to our communities.
  Battalion Chief Murray started with the Dearborn Fire Department in 
1997 as a firefighter. He steadily rose through the ranks, serving as 
an engineer, lieutenant, and captain before he was promoted to 
battalion chief in 2020.
  Over the course of his career, Battalion Chief Murray has garnered 
numerous awards and was recognized as Dearborn Exchange Club's Fire 
Officer of the Year in 2016. Battalion Chief Murray has been an 
outstanding public servant to the communities served by the Dearborn 
Fire Department.
  EMS Coordinator Owens began his career as a firefighter in the 
Dearborn Fire Department in 1998. Over the past 25 years, Owens has 
served in numerous roles, and he remains steadfast in his commitment to 
service and keeping our community safe.
  EMS Coordinator Owens has been recognized many times over the course 
of his career in Dearborn for his incredible record, including saving 
lives and safe driving.
  Please join me in recognizing Battalion Chief Kenneth Murray and EMS 
Coordinator Glenn Owens for their many years of outstanding service to 
the people of Dearborn in Michigan's 12th District Strong as we wish 
them well in their retirement.


                    Acknowledging My Incredible Team

  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I want to take time to acknowledge my 
incredible team and our accomplishments these past few years for our 
community. I lovingly call our congressional district 12th District 
Strong.
  At the beginning of this year, we opened three new Neighborhood 
Service Organizations in Detroit, Inkster, and Southfield.
  Throughout the district, our Neighborhood Service Organizations have 
returned over $5.5 million in constituent services dollars directly to 
over 8,000 residents, returning alone just this year over $306,000 for 
our communities.
  We served and responded to over 164,069 letters from our neighbors 
who advocate for clean water, clean air, utilities for all, and so much 
more. We have hosted and participated in over 120 events, including 
coffee hours, townhalls, resource fairs, and more to ensure that I 
remain accessible to my residents.
  In Congress, in our legislative advocacy work from affordable housing 
to medical debt cancellation and auto insurance discrimination, we have 
introduced 160 bills, and 39 bills and amendments have actually passed 
since 2019.
  This year, we celebrated the 1-year anniversary of the Congressional 
Mamas' Caucus, where we are committed to advocating for working moms 
and their families on issues of affordable childcare, paid leave, and 
ending poverty policies that are incredibly important, as well as 
something dear to me, combating Black maternal health, and so much 
more.
  We also started the Get the Lead Out Caucus, where we know that no 
amount of lead is safe for our children or our families.
  These accomplishments would not have been possible without our 
residents' faith in me and sending me here to the United States 
Congress to do the people's work. It has been an honor to serve as the 
Congresswoman for the 12th Congressional District, 12th District 
Strong.
  I thank all of my team for all of their hard work and tenacity. This 
is just the beginning of what we will be able to accomplish.

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