January 6, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E17 

Hospital, University of Miami Medical School, 

and retired from the Miami-Dade County 

Health Department as supervisor of nursing in 

1997. 

While she was a devoted member of numerous community organizations, Mrs. McKinney 

DeVeaux had a special love and dedication to 

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. 

Throughout her 57 years of membership, 

some of the leadership roles she assumed 

were: multi-term chairperson of the Gamma 

Zeta Omega Chapter’s annual Ebony Fashion 

Fair event, advisor to the undergraduate Iota 

Nu Chapter at University of Miami, chairperson of the health committee and founding 

member of the AKA WISH Foundation. In recognition of her 50 years of committed membership, she was crowned a ‘‘Golden Soror’’ in 

2004. 

In homage to her profession and the community where she was raised (Overtown), she 

proudly served for 14 years as the recording 

secretary of the Board of Directors, Jefferson 

Reaves Sr. Health Center, Inc. Also, always 

the consummate ‘‘Rattler’’, she was a life 

member of the Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University Alumni Association. 

Mrs. McKinney DeVeaux remained devoted 

to her family, and will be missed by all who 

knew her. I offer my heartfelt condolences to 

her family—her children, Jennifer DeVeaux 

Robinson (Rodney) and Pierre Rutledge; sister, Barbara McKinney; brother, Robert L. 

McKinney, Esq.; special brother, Reverend 

Canon J. Kenneth Major; four grandchildren, 

as well as her nieces, nephews, Godchildren, 

and vast array of friends and colleagues. 

Madam Speaker, in the words of her Sorority’s mission to provide ‘‘service to all mankind’’, Mrs. McKinney DeVeaux has embodied 

and wholeheartedly embraced this throughout 

her life. While she will indeed be missed, her 

legacy will live on and the outstanding contributions and service she made to the betterment of Miami-Dade County and South Florida 

will never be forgotten. 

f 

RECOGNIZING VERA BRYANT OF 

BROOKSVILLE, FLORIDA 

HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. 

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Vera 

Bryant of Hernando County, Florida. Vera will 

do something later this year that all of us 

strive to do, but that very few of us will ever 

accomplish, celebrate her 100th birthday. 

Vera Bryant was born May 7, 1909, in Twin 

Lakes, Florida. A native Floridian, she married 

her sweetheart Robert Bryant and together 

they had two beautiful children, both girls. 

After finishing school, Vera worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant for 33 years while raising her two children. 

A dedicated church member that gives her 

much happiness in life, Vera attends the Bethlehem Progressive Baptist Church where she 

is the oldest member. Today she spends 

much of her time visiting with her family and 

her church. At one time, Vera enjoyed delivering the Tampa Tribune, where she had her 

own paper route. Vera said she did a lot of 

volunteer work and was a Lilly White Convention Member and sang in the Church Choir. 

Vera’s proudest moments now are having 

time to spend with all of her grand, great- and 

great-great-grandchildren. She also has many 

wonderful memories of riding her father’s 

horses. Vera’s advice to young people today 

is to be sure to get a good education and 

make something of their lives. 

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join me in 

honoring Vera Bryant for reaching her 100th 

birthday. I hope we all have the good fortune 

to live as long as her. 

f 

INTRODUCTION OF THE COMMISSION ON WARTIME RELOCATION 

AND INTERNMENT OF LATIN 

AMERICANS OF JAPANESE DESCENT ACT 

HON. XAVIER BECERRA OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 

Mr. BECERRA. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to introduce the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act. This bill would 

create a commission to review and determine 

facts surrounding the relocation, internment, 

and deportation of Japanese Latin Americans 

during World War II. 

Almost 30 years ago, Congress established 

the Commission on Wartime Relocation and 

Internment of Civilians to study the circumstances which led to the detention of 

110,000 Japanese Americans during World 

War II. After twenty days of hearings, testimony from 750 witnesses, and review of thousands of government and military documents, 

the Commission concluded that internment of 

Japanese Americans was the result of racism 

and wartime hysteria. In its report to Congress 

titled Personal Justice Denied, the Commission stated ‘‘not a single documented act of 

espionage, sabotage or fifth column activity 

was committed by an American citizen of Japanese ancestry or by Japanese alien . . .’’ 

The Commission’s findings vindicated these 

loyal Americans and President Ronald Reagan’s signature of the Civil Liberties Act of 

1988 brought closure to thousands who suffered unspeakable indignities and tremendous 

losses. However, there remains a group who 

has not yet experienced the closure they deserve or obtained the justice to which they are 

entitled. 

Between December 1941 and February 

1948, approximately 2,300 men, women, and 

children of Japanese ancestry were abducted 

from 13 Latin American countries and deported to internment camps in the United 

States. The U.S. government orchestrated and 

financed this operation with the intention of 

using these individuals as hostages in exchange for Americans held by Japan. Over 

800 people, many who were second or third 

generation Latin Americans and had no familial or linguistic ties to Japan, were used in two 

prisoner of war exchanges. The remaining detainees were held in U.S. internment camps 

until after the end of the war. In the appendix 

of Personal Justice Denied, the Commission 

cited the Federal government’s role in kidnapping and detaining Japanese Latin Americans, 

but acknowledged it had not researched documents that exist in distant archives or received 

official testimony from government officials or 

survivors. 

It is for these reasons that I introduce this 

very important legislation. The Commission on 

Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin 

Americans of Japanese Descent Act would 

create a commission to investigate and review 

the facts with regard to the abduction and detainment Japanese Latin Americans during 

World War II by the U.S. government. Composed of nine members appointed by the 

President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and President pro tempore of the 

Senate, the commission would be charged 

with holding public hearings and submitting a 

report of its findings and recommending appropriate remedies to Congress. 

I am proud to be working with Senator DANIEL K. INOUYE of Hawaii, a decorated World 

War II veteran and a tremendous public servant, who is also introducing an identical Senate companion measure today. Additionally, I 

am honored to have the indispensable support 

of the wonderful men and women of the Campaign for Justice and the Japanese American 

Citizens League. Without them this effort 

would lack the heart and soul essential to 

cross the finish line. 

Madam Speaker, now is the time to reconcile our past and complete the official narrative on a troubling period in our Nation’s history. As we commit ourselves to building a 

better America for our daughters and sons, I 

look forward to working with my colleagues to 

pass the Commission on Wartime Relocation 

and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO MURRELL MITCHELL, 

SR. 

HON. HAROLD ROGERS OF KENTUCKY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, 

I rise today to pay tribute to Murrell Mitchell, 

Sr., a pillar of the community in Corbin, Kentucky, who sadly passed away on November 

18, 2008 at the age of 91. 

Murrell’s life was a testament to his love for 

his community, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, his country, and the Lord. A hard worker and small business owner, Murrell was a 

fixture of southeastern Kentucky. In addition to 

his entrepreneurial efforts, Murrell also served 

as a member of the Knox County Kentucky 

School Board, as well as three terms as a 

Knox County Magistrate. 

Murrell was also devoted to serving the Lord 

and working in his church, the Grace Baptist 

Church in Corbin Kentucky, where he was a 

deacon for many years. As a faithful member 

of the congregation for most of his life, Murrell 

also served as Sunday school director as well 

as church treasurer. 

Through all of his successes, Murrell had a 

deep abiding love for his family. He was married to his wife, Opal, for over 70 years. Together they have been the loving parents of 7 

children, 15 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. Murrell’s presence as father, grandfather, deacon, and rock of the community will 

be sorely missed. 

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join 

with me in honoring the memory of Murrell 

Mitchell. Although he has departed from us in 

body, his memory will live on in each of us 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with REMARKS