[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12633-12634]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           THE GUEST CHAPLAIN

  Mr. CORZINE. Madam President, I thank the Senator from Maine for her 
courtesy in allowing me the opportunity to say a few words about my 
friend and minister who led us in prayer this morning.
  I say to my colleagues in the Senate, it is an honor that we were 
able to have Rev. David Jefferson from the Metropolitan Baptist Church 
in Newark with us today. I assure my colleagues, from my own life 
experience, this is a remarkable man of tremendous energy, leadership, 
and moral character. He leads the largest Baptist church, a very 
dynamic community of believers, in Newark, NJ. Not only are they active 
in their religious life, but they make an enormous contribution to 
redevelopment and the support of the community, reaching out to all who 
are part of the community who sometimes have been left behind. Through 
their example, they are demonstrating that access to the American 
promise is true for everyone.
  In his spare time, he is a senior executive at AT&T where he brings 
both great skills as a business person and moral character and 
leadership to his efforts in the business world. We need examples of 
people who are able to both recognize that our free enterprise system 
needs to be strong and powerful and have brilliant people who care 
about producing good services, good products at the right price but on 
an honorable basis. Reverend Jefferson is one who I think demonstrates 
we can do that, and he does it with great grace.
  Most importantly, he is a moral leader for a broader community by 
demonstrating with all aspects of his life how important it is to 
recognize that we all live under a greater power than what I think we 
sometimes think we live under in our own lives. Sometimes we are too 
focused on what we are

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about, and he is a great teacher about the importance that we are one 
nation under God.
  I am honored and privileged he has joined us today. I am honored and 
privileged that he is my friend. I thank the Presiding Officer for the 
opportunity to welcome Rev. David Jefferson to the Senate Chamber.

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