[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 2657-2658]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Ms. Kelly) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as we recognize the achievements 
of many African Americans this Black History Month, I want to 
acknowledge the Divine Nine, historically black fraternities and 
sororities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, and the role of their 
members in shaping our Nation.

[[Page 2658]]

  Divine Nine organizations consist of:
  Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, founded in 1906 at Cornell University, 
whose brotherhood includes: the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; 
my colleagues Congressmen Emanuel Cleaver, Danny Davis, Chaka Fattah, 
Al Green, Gregory Meeks, Charles Rangel, David Scott, and Bobby Scott; 
legendary Olympic Gold Medalist Jesse Owens; National Urban League 
President Marc Morial; and legal pioneers Charles Hamilton Houston and 
Thurgood Marshall; and they are led by Grand President Mark S. Tillman.
  Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, founded in 1911 at Indiana University, 
includes: civil rights leader Reverend Ralph Abernathy; my colleagues 
Congressmen Sanford Bishop, William Lacy Clay, dean of the House John 
Conyers, Alcee Hastings, Bennie Thompson, and Hakeem Jeffries; General 
Daniel ``Chappy'' James, the first African American four-star general; 
attorney Johnnie Cochran; Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr., the first Black 
astronaut; Hall of Fame Chicago Bear running back Gale Sayers; and a 
special shout-out to a proud Kappa, Brace Clement of Seattle, 
Washington. They are led by Grand Polemarch William ``Randy'' Bates.
  Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, founded in 1908 at Howard University, is 
a sisterhood which proudly boasts of Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee, 
Eddie Bernice Johnson, Terri Sewell, Frederica Wilson, Alma Adams, and 
Bonnie Watson Coleman; astronaut Mae Jemison; the late Maya Angelou; 
the late civil rights leaders Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King; and 
their honorable president, Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson.

                              {time}  1045

  Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, founded in 1911 at Howard University, men 
who include in their ranks Assistant House Democratic Leader James 
Clyburn of South Carolina, Congressmen Hank Johnson, and Kendrick Meek; 
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden; Hall of Fame Chicago Bulls star 
Michael Jordan; and Dr. Charles Drew, whose medical research in the 
field of blood transfusions led to the founding of the Blood Bank. They 
are led by the Honorable Grand Basileus Antonio F. Knox.
  Delta Sigma Theta, founded in 1913 at Howard University, who count as 
sisters of our next Attorney General, Loretta Lynch; Congresswomen 
Marcia Fudge, Yvette Clarke, Joyce Beatty, and Brenda Lawrence; the 
first African American woman elected to Congress, Shirley Chisolm, one 
of my sheroes; former Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman; and their 
Honorable President Paulette C. Walker. Another special shout-out to my 
bonus daughter, Michelle Mills, and my mentee, Miki Grace.
  Phi Beta Sigma, founded in 1914 at Howard University, the fraternity 
of my husband, Dr. Nathaniel Horn; civil rights pioneer and leader of 
the first Black labor union, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, 
A. Philip Randolph; civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis; Dr. 
George Washington Carver; James Weldon Johnson, author, politician, and 
songwriter, whose works include ``Lift Every Voice and Sing,'' the 
Black national anthem; Alain LeRoy Locke, the first Black Rhodes 
Scholar; and former President of the United States, William Jefferson 
Clinton. They are led by President Jonathan A. Mason.
  Zeta Phi Beta, founded in 1920 at Howard University, a sisterhood 
that counts Congresswoman Donna Edwards; the late Congresswoman Julia 
Carson; author Zora Neale Hurston; Lillian Fishburne, the first African 
American to hold the rank of Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy; and their 
honorable president, Mary Breaux Wright.
  Sigma Gamma Rho, my sorority, Congresswoman Corrine Brown of Florida, 
the late Lindy Boggs of Louisiana; Eugenia Charles, first female Prime 
Minister of Dominica--she was the first woman elected head of 
government in the Americas; the first African American winner of the 
Academy Awards, Hattie McDaniel; broadcast trailblazer founder of Radio 
One, Cathy Hughes; and our esteemed Grand Basileus Bonita Herring.
  Last, but certainly not least, Iota Phi Theta, whose brotherhood 
includes Congressman Bobby Rush; Billy Ocasio, former alderman to 
Chicago's 26th Ward and adviser to former Governor Pat Quinn; and Elvin 
Hayes, NBA player and NBA Hall of Fame Inductee.
  The brothers and sisters of the Divine Nine have saved countless 
lives, advanced civil rights, and left a lasting legacy across our 
Nation. I thank the Divine Nine brothers and sisters for their 
groundbreaking contributions and for their commitment to molding future 
leaders, improving education, and the advancement of civil rights.

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