E1528 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 14, 2012 

RECOGNIZING KAREN RAPP AND 

CATHLEEN SCARBOROUGH OF 

GOVERNOR MIFFLIN MIDDLE 

SCHOOL 

HON. JIM GERLACH OF PENNSYLVANIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 14, 2012 

Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

congratulate Karen Rapp and Cathleen Scarborough for their establishment and implementation of the ‘‘Adopt a Veteran Program’’ at 

Governor Mifflin Middle School which served 

to educate children about our great nation and 

the heroic citizens who defend it. 

In the ‘‘Adopt a Veteran Program,’’ led and 

coordinated by Karen and Cathleen, nine students were appointed by their teachers to 

interview three Governor Mifflin Middle School 

staff members who are also war veterans. 

Comprehensive interviews were undertaken 

and short biographies written about the veterans and their military experiences. Photographs and other mementos supplemented 

these biographies and the entire project was 

posted in a display case for all students to 

view. 

Karen and Cathleen’s efforts brought both 

recognition to the faculty veterans and greater 

insight and appreciation of America’s citizensoldiers to their students. 

Mr. Speaker, in light of their efforts in establishing and implementing the ‘‘Adopt a Veteran’’ program, I ask that my colleagues join 

me today in recognizing Karen Rapp and 

Cathleen Scarborough of the Governor Mifflin 

Middle School, Berks County, Pennsylvania. 

f 

HONORING THE INAUGURAL MS. 

DELILAH BEASLEY TEA AND 

HONORING MS. BELVA DAVIS 

FOR A LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT 

HON. BARBARA LEE OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 14, 2012 

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today to honor the enduring legacy of two extraordinary, trailblazing women journalists, the 

late Delilah Beasley and retiring Bay Area icon 

Belva Davis, as they continue to inspire future 

generations of young women of color, many of 

whom will be part of the new Alameda County 

headquarters of Girls Inc. in Oakland, CA. 

This extraordinary occasion, hosted by the 

Progressive Oakland Women for Empowerment and Reform (P.O.W.E.R), is a testament 

to what is possible when we work together to 

celebrate, connect and transform the lives of 

women: past, present and future. 

Today, supporters and friends, including esteemed California Governor, Edmund Gerald 

‘‘Jerry’’ Brown, Jr., and venerable faith leader 

Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr., have gathered to 

pay tribute to women who changed the face of 

journalism in the Bay Area and beyond 

through their intellect and tenacity. Moreover, 

event proceeds will be donated to the Girls 

Inc. Building Fund. 

In honor of the first annual tea in her name, 

we recognize American historian and Oakland 

Tribune newspaper columnist Delilah Leontium 

Beasley as a true Bay Area unsung hero. 

Born in 1871, Ms. Beasley’s journalism career 

began by writing short pieces for a black Ohio 

newspaper called the Cleveland Gazette. In 

her over 50-year career, Ms. Beasley spent 25 

years as a resident of Oakland. And, California and Bay Area communities are forever 

changed as a result of the far-reaching effects 

of her transformative work. 

She spent nine years scouring University of 

California, Berkeley library archives to produce 

The Negro TrailBlazers of California, a 

groundbreaking and prolific chronicle of California Black History throughout the 1800s. 

Published in 1919, her book focused on the 

achievements and sacrifices of black pioneers 

including prominent stories of women. From 

1925 to 1934, she continued her commitment 

to championing communities of color as the 

first African American woman to be published 

regularly in a major newspaper. As an Oakland Tribune columnist, Ms. Beasley gained 

local acclaim for her positive stories about the 

Black community and her ability to reach 

mainstream audiences. She was also a longtime local activist who fought for integration in 

every level of civic and social life, including 

helping to spearhead California’s first antilynching bill. Delilah Beasley should be in the 

halls of every museum and on the pages of 

every American history book. This annual 

event represents a new opportunity make her 

story and achievements known far and wide. 

Today, this legacy continues with the presentation of a P.O.W.E.R Lifetime Achievement 

Award to eight-time local Emmy winner Belva 

Davis. As the first African-American woman 

TV journalist in the Western United States, 

Ms. Davis is a living legend who tore down 

media barriers and defied racist stereotypes. 

For nearly five decades, Ms. Davis has continued to forge ahead, protecting the legacy of 

women like Delilah Beasley and paving the 

way for girls like those in Girls Inc. She began 

her bold career in 1964—the midst of the Civil 

Rights Movement—ignoring risk and personal 

attack to cover history in the making. 

A respected anchor for news programs on 

KPIX–TV and KRON–TV, Ms. Davis has covered high-profile local, national and global 

news events, interviewing world leaders and 

U.S. presidents over the decades. Famed for 

her strong, 19-year presence as the host of 

public television’s, ‘‘This Week in Northern 

California,’’ Ms. Davis will be sorely missed by 

a bevy of fans, including community leaders, 

celebrities, colleagues and Bay Area residents. Though her final broadcast will air November 9, 2012, she will continue her role as 

a long-time community advocate. 

Therefore, on behalf of the residents of California’s 9th Congressional District, I thank Ms. 

Belva Davis for a lifetime of service and congratulate her upon receipt of this honor. I 

thank P.O.W.E.R for their vital work to support 

the achievement of women and girls, and wish 

them many more years of successful celebrations of the commemorative, ‘‘Ms. Delilah 

Beasley Tea.’’ 

f 

HONORING LINCOLN ‘‘ED’’ BURTON 

FOR HIS SERVICE AS STATE 

CONSERVATIONIST FOR USDA’S 

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE IN CALIFORNIA 

HON. MIKE THOMPSON OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 14, 2012 

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, 

I rise today with my colleagues, Representatives FARR, GARAMENDI, MCNERNEY, and 

WOOLSEY, to recognize Lincoln ‘‘Ed’’ Burton, 

State Conservationist of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in California for 

the past 7 years, and a conservationist with 

that Agency in numerous western states for 

the past 48 years. Mr. Burton has dedicated 

his life to helping farmers and ranchers find 

conservation solutions to natural resource concerns in ways that respect both the economic 

and environmental contributions made by agricultural producers. 

Mr. Burton has become known for his inclusiveness, diplomacy, and transparent, leadership style in administering and strategically investing $840 million in federal conservation 

funding to protect natural resources on cropland, rangeland and non-industrial forestland. 

He has expanded and enhanced wildlife habitat for common and impaired species—notably 

the Greater Sage Grouse. 

Mr. Burton has contributed to the long-term 

preservation of farmland, essential to our Nation’s ability to feed itself. Under his watch, 

farmers voluntarily enrolled historical wetlands 

for long-term protection so that today the 

Agency is responsible for the restoration of 

one fourth of California’s current functioning 

wetlands. 

Mr. Burton’s leadership provided water quality planning and implementation services on 

more than 1400 dairies in California, helping 

the industry address the regulatory requirements they faced amid difficult economic times 

to protect the quality of California’s surface 

and groundwater while helping to maintain 

economic viability for one of the State’s top 

agricultural industries. 

Mr. Burton oversaw a significant expansion 

in the air quality achievements of the Agency, 

helping farmers claim emissions reductions of 

over 1600 tons of nitrogen oxides each year. 

Mr. Burton has been a staunch advocate for 

conservation planning to make the best possible advancements in the management and 

health of cropland, rangeland and forests, protecting on-farm soil, water, air and habitat resources in a manner that is acceptable and 

consistent with economic sustainability. 

Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time 

that we recognize our public servant, Ed Burton, for his visionary leadership and contributions to California’s natural resources and his 

dedication to our agricultural communities. 


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