[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 1, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H2774-H2775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING LIEUTENANT GENERAL A.C. ROPER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Alabama (Ms. Sewell) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary 
career and achievements of Lieutenant General A.C. Roper, the first 
African-American, three-star general in the U.S. Army Reserve, as he 
celebrates his retirement from 41 years of service in the United States 
Army.
  Lieutenant General Roper's extraordinary career began after he was 
commissioned in 1983 as a student at the University of Alabama at 
Birmingham. He has an extensive military education and received 
master's degrees from both the University of Alabama and the U.S. Army 
War College.
  Throughout his exemplary career, Lieutenant General Roper moved 
quickly up the ranks and broke down barriers for African Americans 
serving in the Armed Forces.
  On May 14, 2021, he made history as the first African American to 
become a three-star general in the U.S. Army Reserve.
  Most recently, he served as deputy commander of the U.S. Northern 
Command and vice commander of the U.S. Element, North American 
Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado. He 
has received numerous awards and decorations.
  Mr. Speaker, I got to know Lieutenant General Roper during his time 
as the chief of police for Birmingham Police Department. I was 
immediately impressed by his firm yet compassionate leadership style 
that commanded the respect of his fellow officers and endeared him to 
the Birmingham community.
  Lieutenant General Roper's reputation has always been one of great 
purpose and great passion. He is an honorable man, guided by an abiding 
faith in God and a love of country.
  On behalf of a grateful Nation, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
celebrating the retirement of Lieutenant General A.C. Roper after 33 
years in law enforcement and 41 years of military service.

                              {time}  1015


    Recognizing Small Business Winners in Alabama's Seventh District

  Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the award-winning small 
business owners in Alabama's Seventh Congressional District as we 
celebrate National Small Business Week.
  Ms. Jackie Smith is the proud owner and operator of The Coffee Shoppe 
and Reflections in our hometown of Selma, Alabama. After leaving her 
job in 2011, Jackie bravely took on the risk of opening up her own 
small business, turning the site that once was a segregated diner into 
a beautiful coffee shop in the heart of downtown Selma. For 13 years, 
The Coffee Shoppe has provided a place for the community to come 
together, learn about Selma's history, and eat some great food.
  Like any businessowner, Jackie has had her fair share of hardships. 
After the tornado of January 12, 2023, we saw her resilience, and 
thanks to an investment by the SBA, she was able to open her doors and 
continue The Coffee Shoppe's great legacy; and, in fact, she opened up 
another business, Reflections.
  This week, Jackie's extraordinary entrepreneurship earned her 
national recognition as the Small Business Administration's 2024 
Phoenix Award winner for outstanding disaster recovery efforts. We 
congratulate her on her outstanding achievements.
  Today, I also recognize SBA's 2024 Small Business Persons of the Year 
in Alabama: Shanna Ullmann, Timothy Ullmann, and Robert Prescott of 
Transformation Partners, LLC in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
  Beginning in the year 2000, as a statewide training provider, their 
firm has grown tremendously over the past two decades. Today, they 
serve numerous clients in the field of higher education, government, 
military, and corporate America, offering consulting services and 
employee development programming.

[[Page H2775]]

  Transformation Partners was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but 
once again, thanks to the assistance of the SBA, the firm remained 
operational and weathered the storm. Now their efforts have earned them 
national recognition as SBA's 2024 National Small Business Persons of 
the Year for Alabama.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the outstanding 
entrepreneurship in Alabama's Seventh Congressional District. 
Congratulations to all of our winners. I wish them much success in the 
years ahead.

                          ____________________