[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9913]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     CONGRATULATING AUDRA McDONALD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Costa) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I recognize Audra 
McDonald, an award-winning actress and singer from my hometown of 
Fresno, California.
  Audra, who I have the pleasure of knowing personally, made history on 
Sunday, if you were watching the Tony Awards, when she received her 
sixth Tony Award. This win makes her the most statue-laden Tony Award 
winner in our Nation's history. Audra's most recent Tony Award was for 
her incredible portrayal of Billie Holiday in ``Lady Day at Emerson's 
Bar and Grill.''
  Audra, who grew up in Fresno, began her career with my friend Dan 
Pessano and the Good Company Players while attending Roosevelt High 
School. She then went on to graduate from the Juilliard School of New 
York in 1993. Audra has seen great success on Broadway, television, and 
in the opera.
  In addition to having won three Tony Awards at the age of 28, Audra 
has also received numerous Grammy Awards, Drama Desk Awards, and Outer 
Critics Circle Awards. There is almost nothing that she hasn't 
performed in her field. She also has been able to display her talents 
at the White House and on the greatest stages in the world.
  Audra is not only an exceptional actress, but also a wonderful, 
giving person. She actively gives back to her community and seeks to 
improve the lives of those around her, including her family.
  Earlier this year, she held a benefit concert for Hands in the 
Community and is a supporter of marriage equality. She also sits on the 
advisory committee for Broadway Impact. Most importantly, she has 
always given credit to where credit is due, beginning with her parents 
who are respected educators in Fresno, who motivated and taught 
students as they taught Audra.
  Audra McDonald is a source of pride and inspiration in the San 
Joaquin Valley and her hometown of Fresno, as well as around the world. 
I think it is important that we take special note of the talented 
people throughout our country who provide joy and the experience of the 
arts as this very, very fine individual has done, a star in her own 
right, Audra McDonald--hometown, Fresno, California.

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