May 9, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 979

VETERANS’ EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE MUST BE MAINTAINED

HON. G.V. (SONNY) MONTGOMERY

OF MISSISSIPPI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 9, 1995

Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I am

today introducing the Veterans’ Employment

and Training Bill of Rights Act of 1995. Under

this measure, which would amend section

4100, title 38, United States Code, veterans’

eligibility for priority services under any federally funded work-force preparation, development, and/or delivery program would be clarified. An eligible veteran would be required to

meet program eligibility requirements and be

within 10 years of his or her date of discharge

or release from active duty. Special disabled

veterans would be given priority and preference under this section.

Additionally, the act would require entities

that administer or deliver services under the

above-described programs to provide information and effective referral assistance to veterans regarding benefits and services that may

be obtained through other entities or service

providers. The bill further provides that entities

or services providers would be required to ensure that veterans are informed of their employment-related rights, benefits, and privileges provided under this measure.

The act would also require each State or

local council, board, or advisory body established in support of the employment and training programs addressed by this measure to include representation from the veterans’ community.

In order to ensure that veterans are being

served in accordance with the intent of this

legislation, the Secretary of Labor would be

required to submit an annual report to the

Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House

of Representatives and the Senate. It would

be the Secretary’s responsibility to determine

what data is necessary to obtain the required

information.

Mr. Speaker, our country has a longstanding

commitment to providing priority services to

veterans seeking employment and training assistance. We are now in the midst of an indepth review and redesign of our national

labor exchange and job training programs. As

ranking member on the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Education, Training, Employment, and Housing, I feel strongly that our

commitment to veterans must be protected

and even strengthened during this era of

change. The men and women who defend our

lives and liberty through military service earn

the priority of services they have traditionally

been provided and will continue to be provided

under this bill.

I want to point out that no fewer than 17

States have implemented bills of employment

rights for veterans. The Federal Government

can and should do no less.

A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO KATHRYN

ELIZABETH RICHARDSON TYLER:

CELEBRATING A LIFE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

HON. LOUIS STOKES OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 9, 1995

Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, on Monday,

May 15, 1995, the city of Cleveland will celebrate the dedication of a new building addition

to the Kathryn R. Tyler Neighborhood Center.

The dedication ceremony will celebrate the

strong commitment and vision of an individual

who dedicated her life to serving the community and improving the lives of others.

The Cleveland community mourned the

passing of Kathryn Elizabeth Richardson Tyler

on April 5, 1995. For 32 years, Mrs. Tyler

served as Administrator of the Kathryn Tyler

Neighborhood Center. As we gather to break

ground for the new building addition, we acknowledge her enormous contributions to our

ceremony. I am proud to join the community

for the special dedication ceremony. I wish to

share with my colleagues and the Nation

some information regarding Kathryn Tyler.

Mr. Speaker, Kathryn Elizabeth Richardson

Tyler was born in Dawson, GA, and attended

college in Knoxville, TN. She received two

master degrees; the first was a Masters of Social Work from Atlanta University; and the second was a Masters of Social Work Administration from Case Western Reserve University in

Cleveland.

Early in her professional career, Kathryn

Tyler was a teacher in Sheffield, AL. She was

also an instructor of social science at Albany

State College, and North Carolina A&T College. Further, Mrs. Tyler served as Director of

Field Services in the Mediterranean and European theaters during World War II for the

American Red Cross.

Mr. Speaker, throughout her life, Kathryn

Tyler exhibited a concern for the social welfare

of the community. Shortly after relocating to

the Cleveland area, Mrs. Tyler founded and

served as the first Director of the Glenville

Neighborhood and Community Centers. She

ran the operation out of store fronts and in the

old Glenville High School. However, Kathryn

Tyler never gave up on the dream of a permanent home to address the needs of the community through basic social work.

In 1976, the Kathryn Tyler Neighborhood

Center was named in honor of this individual’s

tireless efforts and commitment to the community where she resided and served. During her

32 years as Administrator of the Center, the

Cleveland community benefited from important

programs such as after school tutorial programs and Head Start for the children; mental

health outreach services for families; adult

education and job training classes for individuals throughout the community; and special

programs to serve the elderly population.

Mr. Speaker, Kathryn Elizabeth Richardson

Tyler was a beacon of light in our community.

She had a love of people and a special gift of

reaching out to those in need. Mrs. Tyler lived

by the adage, ‘‘Have a dream . . . and reach

for it.’’ Due to her lifelong efforts, the community is better able to reach out to individuals

and families in need. More importantly, because of Kathryn Tyler, our children have

brighter and more promising futures. I was

privileged to have known Kathryn Tyler. She

was a close friend and someone whom I

greatly admired.

I am proud to participate in the ground

breaking ceremony for the new addition to the

Kathryn Tyler Neighborhood Center. It represents a special tribute to an individual who

dedicated her life to serving others.

‘‘I LOVE LIFE AND I WANT TO

LIVE’’ IS THEME ONCE AGAIN

fFOR THE UNITED BLACK FUND

23D ANNUAL VICTORY LUNCHEON

HON. RONALD V. DELLUMS OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 9, 1995

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

enthusiastically extend my heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Wilhelmina J. Rolark, Esq.,

president/CEO, and the staff of the United

Black Fund [UBF] in celebration of its 23d Annual Victory Luncheon.

I would also like to commend the staff of the

UBF and its many member agencies for their

continuous and much needed work in serving

the community. It seems that the needs that

were once taken care of by families and

friends has now been placed in the lap of organizations such as the UBF.

Today, we face the possibility of many social programs being eliminated from our national landscape. We see our communities in

distress and our Government has been thus

far unable to provide for the growing numbers

of people requesting assistance. This organization, and the many agencies it supports, are

helping fill that void. I encourage UBF to continue to go forward, and to fight the good fight.

I know it is not easy to be called upon to do

more and more with less. But with the kind of

dedication the UBF has shown in the past,

and the commitment it is making toward the

future with programs such as ‘‘I Love Life and

I Want To Live,’’ the road to wellness is at

hand, and the tide will be turned. As a former

community worker, I know that it takes a

strong will to constantly put the needs of others before one’s own. I have the deepest respect and admiration for those who continue

to do this day after day, year after year. Their

selfless efforts make a difference in the lives

of so many now and will do so in the years to

come.

I find UBF’s never-ending efforts a steadfast

source of personal strength in my daily encounters with forces that seek an end to any

and all programs that do not fit into their particular agenda. I know that without the UBF,

there are many among us who would go hungry, who would be in the cold, and many more

who would be without hope. I would like to

thank UBF for caring for those people who

need a helping hand. I know my friend, the

late Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Jr., is pleased as he

peers down from above and witnesses the

continuation of his lifelong work.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me

in saluting an organization that is serving a

growing number of those in need. The UBF is

definitely meeting unmet needs in the Washington metropolitan area and throughout

America.