[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H5244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1230
                        IN HONOR OF IRA SULLIVAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Frost) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, we are nearing 4 years since we lost a jazz 
great. I rise today to honor the life of one of our jazz legends and 
icons, Ira Sullivan.
  Ira was many things: a jazz great, an educator, a mentor, a father, a 
husband, and a friend of mine.
  I remember first meeting him when I was in about the seventh or 
eighth grade, as a student of the University of Miami Young Musicians 
Camp Jazz Honor Program.
  I remember walking in very young, and he asked me to play vibraphone 
to a jazz song, which was kind of weird for me. I was pretty young in 
my jazz education career, and I didn't know about jazz vibraphone. It 
almost felt as if he was asking me to play a timpani to a jazz song. It 
was very foreign.
  The next day, I came in, and he gave me a pair of Gary Burton 
mallets, and he told me to give it a try. Believe it or not, I was 
still very confused. Either way, that decision and that gift he gave me 
changed my life forever.
  From then on, I would start practicing jazz vibraphone and became 
quite obsessed with it. I stopped auditioning on the drum set at my 
school and started auditioning to be a jazz vibraphonist.
  Years passed. Ira would always invite me to go back to perform with 
him in whatever the new class was at the University of Miami for the 
summer camp. I got to meet all the young people from across the country 
who Ira had inspired and whose lives he had changed.
  Ira Sullivan achieved technical skills not achieved by many: a multi-
instrumentalist in the truest sense of the word, fluidly being able to 
play trumpet, saxophone, flute, and other instruments.
  Ira also had the ability to be a jazz great in the history books but 
also remain an accessible educator for artists of many different 
levels. Ira mentored greats such as Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny, but 
he also continued to teach high schoolers and college-aged students at 
the Young Musicians Camp at the University of Miami, where I met him.
  Today, I honor the life of Ira Sullivan because he inspired so many 
young musicians.
  I stopped practicing swing many, many years ago, but I have been 
telling myself that I ought to get back to it. I am committed to 
starting back up in his honor.
  The last thing I will say, too, is a quick story. I remember going 
into high school jazz band, and I hadn't practiced very much that day. 
I got yelled at by the band director, rightfully so.
  That night, I went home and felt very defeated. My dad came into my 
room with the house phone, and he said: Ira Sullivan is on the phone 
for you. I said: The Ira Sullivan? He said: Yeah, the Ira Sullivan.
  I spoke with him for maybe 30 minutes, 45 minutes, told him about my 
day. I remember hanging up and going to practice all night. God bless 
my parents.
  I went into jazz band that next day. Not only was I able to play the 
song proficiently, but I did it with so much passion, some of the most 
passion I had ever played with before. I think it is because, number 
one, I got up off of my butt and practiced, but also because Ira 
Sullivan called me.
  Long live the memory of Ira Sullivan, jazz great, educator, friend, 
and mentor.


                 Acknowledging Suicide Prevention Month

  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize September as 
Suicide Prevention Month, a time for us to come together, raise 
awareness, and offer hope to those facing thoughts of suicide and other 
mental health issues.
  This issue hits particularly close to home for our veterans as we 
lose 17 veterans due to suicide every day. These are our friends, loved 
ones, neighbors, and people who served our country with courage, but 
are now struggling in silence. Whether it is safe firearm storage, 
better and increased access to mental healthcare, or the immediate 
support of the 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline, we can all play a part in 
saving lives.
  People in a mental health or suicide crisis deserve and need a 
compassionate and an effective response. The path toward saving lives 
starts with a conversation. Talking openly about suicide prevention and 
mental health can break the silence, and sometimes just one 
conversation can make all the difference.
  We owe it to those who we have lost and those still struggling to 
listen and to act and to work together toward a future where no one has 
to fight alone.


                        In Honor of Omari Jones

  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Omari Jones, an 
exceptional central Floridian in my district who has made history as a 
bronze medalist in boxing at the 2024 Olympics.
  Omari was just one of eight boxers to bring home a medal, 
demonstrating his skill, courage, and determination.

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