[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 11, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H1079]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          CELEBRATING 314 DAY

  (Mr. Bell of Missouri was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise as this week on March 14 in my hometown 
of St. Louis we are celebrating 314 Day.
  This day is much more than just our area code or an excuse to 
celebrate our hometown sports teams: the Cardinals, the Blues, St. 
Louis City Soccer Club, the Battlehawks. I am also going to acknowledge 
Mathews-Dickey and a huge shout-out to the St. Louis Stars, our Negro 
league baseball team back in the day, and St. Louis' own James ``Cool 
Papa'' Bell. God rest his soul.
  It is not just about what high school you attended, which is also a 
St. Louis thing, or it is not just about the beer, which we are known 
to make a lot of. It is not about the gooey butter cakes. It is not 
just about Imo's Pizza, Vess soda, and Ted Drewes. God rest his soul. 
It is not about the fact that many St. Louisans sincerely believe that 
our Chinese food is better than Chinese food in China.
  I won't even quiz you on what a chicken St. Paul with cheese is, 
which is also a St. Louis thing.
  It is about recognizing and renewing the powerful bonds and 
resilience that define our community.
  St. Louis is a city of complexity, a rich history, and deep 
contrasts. From neighborhoods in Webster Groves, Normandy, and the 24-1 
communities to historic neighborhoods in North City and Ferguson and 
Florissant, from Saint Ann to Soulard and South City, our city 
encapsulates both the beauty and the struggle of America.
  We have faced challenges, economic inequality, racial injustice, and 
public health crises, but we have never backed down from confronting 
hard truths or demanding necessary change.
  That is why 314 Day matters. In a country that feels deeply divided, 
days like today remind us of the power of community. Families in Tower 
Grove Park, the immigrant communities of the Hill and our Bosnian 
brothers and sisters in South City and South County, businesses 
thriving in the Central West End in Clayton all remind us of the 
collective strength we gain from unity and cooperation.
  St. Louisans know what it means not to fall in the shadow of hateful 
rhetoric, but instead to rise in the face of adversity. Whether it is 
organizing for justice, rebuilding neighborhoods, or simply coming 
together to support each other through difficult times, our community 
exemplifies resilience and compassion every day.
  On 314 Day, let's not just celebrate our history, our food, and our 
iconic art. Let's celebrate our city's extraordinary spirit, the 
unwavering belief that our greatest challenges can become opportunities 
for growth, justice, and meaningful change.
  Today, we recommit to that ideal because St. Louis deserves nothing 
else.
  On a solemn note, rest in peace Berkeley, Missouri, Mayor Babatunde 
Deinbo and his fierce passion for his community.
  I wish a happy birthday to Jordan Sanders and to Justin Tatum, a 
former St. Louis University basketball star and father of St. Louis-
born and bred NBA champion Jason Tatum. Boston, you are welcome.
  Finally, I wish a very special--and I won't say the number because I 
don't think she wants me to--but a very special birthday to my mother, 
Sharon Gardner, our matriarch, the primary reason that I rise in these 
Halls so that I could rise before you today.
  Happy birthday to my mom.

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