[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8853]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING MEGAFEST, THE NATION'S LARGEST FAITH, FILM, AND FAMILY 
                          MULTIDAY EXPERIENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 7, 2017

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize MegaFest which returns to Dallas this summer--June 28 through 
July 1. MegaFest has been built into the nation's largest celebration 
of life-changing events and empowering seminars focused on faith, 
inspiration, music, entertainment, youth and fun for the entire family, 
and praise for this event's success belongs to visionary leader Bishop 
T.D. Jakes.
  MegaFest has captivated diverse audiences in Atlanta, GA; Dallas, TX; 
and Johannesburg, South Africa, since 2004. In 2015, over 90,000 
attendees from around the world called Dallas ``home.'' With an 
expected attendance of over 100,000, support from the business 
community and key sponsors has helped Bishop Jakes, MegaFest, and the 
City of Dallas reach larger audiences and offer quality programs and 
entertainment.
  A major theme of the event is based on the ``Conversations with 
America'' survey conducted by Bishop Jakes. The survey gauged America's 
thoughts, concerns, and views on today's most pressing issues, 
including gender equality, criminal justice reform, economic reform, 
and national security.
  This year's results show a significant and consistent gap between men 
and women's views toward the current state of gender inequality across 
America. Equality for all is a central pillar of our democracy, and 
women, no matter their ethnicity, religious orientation, or 
socioeconomic status in the United States, should be treated as equals 
in all aspects of our society.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Bishop Jakes on creating such a wonderful 
and progressive event. I wish MegaFest, and similar events, future 
success in uniting families and individuals from all over the world in 
the name of love, growth, and equality.

                          ____________________