[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 14451-14452]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    WELCOMING REVEREND BRONDON REEMS

  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Lee) is recognized for 1 minute.

[[Page 14452]]

  There was no objection.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to welcome Pastor Brondon Reems 
to the House floor this morning after delivering such a powerful 
prayer.
  Pastor Reems is the senior pastor of the Center of Hope Community 
Church in Oakland, California, a church founded by his mother--a great 
woman of faith, who has broken so many glass ceilings for women, 
especially for African American women--Bishop Ernestine Reems.
  His wife, Pastor Maria, who is also here with us today, is his 
partner in ministry and has helped to grow the church into a vibrant 
and strong pillar of faith and community in the East Bay.
  Pastor Reems accepted his call to ministry at 10 years old, and he 
has flourished into a strong spiritual leader.
  From ministering youth in juvenile hall to assisting families coping 
with substance abuse and emotional disabilities, Pastor Reems serves 
the East Bay community with a genuine heart and compassion.
  He is the cofounder of the Oakland's Potters House for Young Men, a 
24-hour residential care facility for young teens who have become wards 
of the State.
  I thank Pastor Reems for his spiritual leadership, his wisdom, and 
his service. He embodies and exemplifies a living faith. He is a 
wonderful pastor, a great mentor, and a committed and powerful civic 
leader.

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