Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, August 7, 2020, Page E731
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, dated August 7, 2020, at page E731, with remarks inserted by several House Members. Mr. Gonzalez of Texas honors the International Association of Drilling Contractors on its 80th anniversary. Mr. Beyer remembers Benjamin Thomas, who was lynched in Alexandria, Virginia, on August 8, 1899, noting that it was one of 86 documented lynchings in Virginia between 1880 and 1930. Mr. Lipinski speaks in support of his amendment on the Postal Service Inspector General to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2021, and another tribute honors Major General Jensen, the 31st Adjutant General of Minnesota's National Guard.
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“Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, August 7, 2020, Page E731.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-08-07-crec-2020-08-07-pt1-pge731-4-9299ee5674/
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August 7, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E731
EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS
HONORING THE INTERNATIONAL mand and General Staff College, and the leadership must improve service across Chi-
ASSOCIATION OF DRILLING CON- United States Army War College. cago to restore public trust in the institution
TRACTORS 80TH ANNIVERSARY Following his graduate studies, Major Gen- and ensure that essential items arrive on time.
eral Jensen served in military operations f
HON. VICENTE GONZALEZ around the globe, deploying to Kuwait in 2001
REMEMBERING THE LYNCHING OF
OF TEXAS
as a Major, and Iraq in 2007 as a Lieutenant
Colonel. He also served as Deputy Com- BENJAMIN THOMAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
manding General for U.S. Army Africa.
Friday, August 7, 2020 Since returning home, Major General Jen- HON. DONALD S. BEYER, JR.
Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas. Madam Speaker, sen has delivered steadfast leadership as the OF VIRGINIA
I rise today to honor the International Associa- 31st Adjutant General of Minnesota’s National IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
tion of Drilling Contractors (IADC), which will Guard. While our state will feel the loss of
Major General Jensen’s presence, we are for- Friday, August 7, 2020
celebrate its 80th anniversary in November of
this year. tunate to see his years of dedication and serv- Mr. BEYER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in
Since its inception in 1940, IADC has grown ice elevate him to this prestigious post. memory of Benjamin Thomas, a young African
into one of the world’s largest non-profit trade Thank you, Major General Jensen, for your American man who was lynched by an angry
associations, now boasting over 1,000 mem- friendship and service to Minnesota. I wish white mob just down the road from this Capitol
bers across six continents. Members include you, your wife Cindy, and your entire family all in Alexandria, Virginia one hundred and twen-
companies involved in oil and gas drilling, pro- the best in your new role. Our nation is safer ty-one years ago. He was accused of assault-
duction, well servicing, oilfield manufacturing, because of you. ing a young white girl but was never given the
and other rig-site services. f chance to defend himself. During the evening
As the Chairman of the Oil & Gas Caucus, of August 8, 1899, Thomas was pulled out of
I am proud to recognize IADC for 80 incredible DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE a city jail by a large crowd. He was bound with
years of promoting safety and innovation and APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021 a rope and dragged six blocks to a lamppost
for its continued commitment to advocacy and on the corner of King and Fairfax Street. He
SPEECH OF
education. By convening conferences, issuing was then stripped of his clothes and hanged.
publications, offering accreditation courses, HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI Before dispersing, the mob proceeded to
and hosting seven Student Chapters, IADC is OF ILLINOIS shoot his body several times. No one was
supporting workers and cultivating the next IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ever charged for this heinous crime.
generation of leaders in the industry. The lynching of Benjamin Thomas is only
Thursday, July 30, 2020 one of 86 documented lynchings committed in
IADC and its members value community en-
gagement and recognize the risks and oppor- Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise in Virginia between 1880 and 1930. These acts
tunities associated with climate change and support of my amendment to encourage the of premeditated violence were deliberate at-
conventional energy production. IADC con- United States Postal Service Inspector Gen- tempts by whites to terrorize and control black
tinues to invest in education, innovation and eral to investigate and take corrective action populations across the state. While the local
research to ensure its members are informed, on serious mail delivery problems in Chicago. black community of Alexandria was outraged
adaptable, and responsible stewards. For the last several years, I have heard in the wake of Thomas’ death, fear of addi-
Madam Speaker, for the last eight decades, frustrating stories from my constituents about tional white violence prevented any further ac-
the International Association of Drilling Con- serious deficiencies in mail delivery. These tion. This was often the case, as members of
tractors has done yeoman’s work, and that de- breakdowns in mail service are particularly these mobs rarely faced any consequences
serves recognition. I am confident that this or- bad in the Mt. Greenwood neighborhood in for their actions, or worse were implicitly or ex-
ganization will continue leading the charge to Chicago, but are also present in Beverly, Mor- plicitly supported by members of law enforce-
fuel our world in a responsible and safe way gan Park, and Scottsdale. Many constituents ment.
in the decades to come. have reported that they have gone days with- It is incumbent on all of us, particularly
f out receiving their mail, and that they have those born into privilege, to remember this
been treated disrespectfully when visiting the shameful episode of our history and others
HONORING MAJOR GENERAL JON post office to inquire about their mail. These like it. In doing so, we are better able to see
A. JENSEN problems have not been rectified despite a the continuous chain of racially motivated vio-
town hall meeting I organized with USPS offi- lence against black Americans that spans our
HON. TOM EMMER cials last year, and other follow on efforts. nation’s history. We can truly honor the mem-
OF MINNESOTA While COVID–19 is undoubtedly a burden ory of Benjamin Thomas along with the count-
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES on USPS operations, the problems in my com- less number of named and unnamed victims
munity have been ongoing for years. Addition- of racial violence by seeking justice for all
Friday, August 7, 2020 ally, recent media reports have indicated that Americans and working to build a more inclu-
Mr. EMMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today poor mail delivery is not isolated within my dis- sive society.
to congratulate Major General Jon A. Jensen trict, but instead has impacted much of Chi- f
on his appointment as Director of the Army cago.
National Guard. In these challenging times, reliable mail and HONORING VICTORY OVER JAPAN
Major General Jensen has led a dedicated package delivery is critical for our communities DAY AND THE WORK OF THE
life of service to our military and the American to function. Constituents may be expecting tax HILLMAN VFW POST 2356
people. After graduating from the Northwest refunds, stimulus payments, prescription
Missouri State University, he earned his com- drugs, and forms for unemployment insurance HON. JACK BERGMAN
mission from the United States Army Officer and other assistance programs, just to name OF MICHIGAN
Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia. a few essential items that arrive by mail. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
He has served in a variety of command and My amendment directs the USPS Inspector
staff positions in the Iowa and Minnesota General to conduct an independent investiga- Friday, August 7, 2020
Army National Guards—including commands tion since USPS has been unresponsive to my Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, it is my
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with REMARKS
at all levels of Minnesota’s storied 34th Red constituents’ concerns. It’s well past time to honor to recognize the observance of Victory
Bull Infantry Division—and earned a master’s take action to improve mail delivery in my dis- over Japan (V–J) Day and the efforts of VFW
degree from the United States Army Com- trict and in Chicago once and for all. USPS Post 2356 in Hillman, Michigan.
∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.
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