[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5495]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      WELCOMING THE GUEST CHAPLAIN

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, this morning I would like to extend a warm 
welcome to the Reverend Dr. Ralph Williamson, of Las Vegas, NV, who 
opened the Senate today with such a beautiful prayer. For a dozen 
years, Dr. Williamson has served as senior pastor at the First African 
Methodist Episcopal Church in North Las Vegas.
  During that time, Reverend Williamson has helped shepherd the First 
African American Episcopal Church through an expansion that includes a 
beautiful new sanctuary. It is brand new. He is a devoted pastor, and 
he is beloved by a growing congregation, which includes Senator Cory 
Booker's mother.
  Cory's mom and aunt live in Las Vegas. It was there that his good dad 
died. I had the opportunity to meet his father before he passed away. 
They are so proud of their son, Cory--as well they should be--as they 
are proud of having worshiped in this church.
  The Apostle Paul wrote: ``As we have therefore opportunity, let us do 
good to all men, especially unto them who are of the household of 
faith.''
  Reverend Williamson has heeded this admonition, doing good for the 
members of his flock and the people of all southern Nevada. Through 
Reverend Williamson's leadership, the First African American Episcopal 
Church has become a source of faith and vital support for the 
community. Reverend Williamson's tireless efforts have produced 
programs for youth, seniors, and the underprivileged. He has pioneered 
food banks, summer lunch programs, tutoring programs, and health 
ministries. Just about everything that deals with helping people, he 
has done it.
  I appreciate his joining us today. I did not have the chance to tell 
him. We met earlier today. We had a ``Welcome to Washington'' with 60 
or 70 people today. He gave the presentation to them and offered a 
prayer for those assembled. It was very warm and nice. But what I did 
not get a chance to tell him is that I believe the first leader of the 
flock, of this church in southern Nevada, was a man by the name of 
Albert Dunn. He was responsible for starting this first congregation. 
He was my friend, Reverend Dunn. He was a very, very devoutly religious 
man. To show you how far he went to help people in the community, this 
was a conversation with his wife one day. She said: ``You know, I wish 
you had talked to Reverend Dunn, because, oftentimes, we would get up 
in the morning and he had given away all the food to people who needed 
it.''
  So I have a warm remembrance of this church and Reverend Dunn.
  Dr. Williamson, thank you very much for your leadership. I appreciate 
it very much.

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