Honoring the Service of Kevin Fitzpatrick (Cong. Rec., Dec. 9, 2020)
Summary
Page H7057 of the Congressional Record, House, for December 9, 2020, opens with remarks on the racial wealth gap, citing data that the typical Black family has 10 cents for every dollar of the typical White family and urging support for Black-owned businesses and banks. Chabot of Ohio then recognizes Kevin Fitzpatrick, staff director at the Small Business Committee, who is retiring at the end of the Congress after a quarter century of working together. Chabot says Fitzpatrick was the last remaining member of the original staff from when Chabot was first sworn into Congress in 1995. Later remarks on the page discuss Pell Grants and drug companies.
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“Honoring the Service of Kevin Fitzpatrick (Cong. Rec., Dec. 9, 2020).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-12-09-crec-2020-12-09-pt1-pgh7057-34e06181bf/
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December 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7057
According to the Brookings Institu- distributors or suppliers and does not The solution is that there is a need
tion, the net worth of a typical White advertise in Black-owned media. to help support MDIs and CDFIs but
family is nearly 10 times that of a The Empowerment Experiment re- not only with deposits.
Black family. sulted in a landmark study conducted Mr. Speaker, this is an urgent issue.
According to the Atlanta Wealth by Steven Rogers at the Northwestern I urge my colleagues in this Chamber
Building Initiative, the numbers in my University Kellogg School of Manage- to consider the dictates of this state-
home city of Atlanta and the other ment, which proved how supporting ment and act to help all Americans re-
eight cities in the district, College Black-owned businesses can benefit the alize their American Dream.
Park, East Point, Decatur, Hapeville, Black community, as well as the Amer- f
Lake City, Forest Park, Morrow, and ican economy as a whole.
In Anderson’s book, ‘‘Our Black Year: HONORING THE SERVICE OF KEVIN
Brookhaven, are slightly better, but no FITZPATRICK
less concerning. One Family’s Quest to Buy Black in
The median household income of a America’s Racially Divided Economy,’’ The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
White family is $83,722, compared to she notes that if Black spending with Chair recognizes the gentleman from
$28,105 for a Black family. Black businesses rose from the current Ohio (Mr. CHABOT) for 5 minutes.
Sixty-nine percent of the Black fami- 3 percent to 10 percent it could create Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, it is with
lies are liquid asset poor, compared to a million new jobs and provide eco- a mixture of some sadness, but mostly
nomic security to countless Black appreciation, that I come to the floor
22 percent of White families.
households. today to recognize the contributions of
The average African-American-owned
Lack of access to financial services is my staff director at the Small Business
business is valued at $58,085, while the
not just a symptom of America’s racial Committee, Kevin Fitzpatrick, who is
average value of a White business is
wealth gap; it is also a cause. Without retiring at the end of this Congress.
$658,264.
the ability to efficiently save, invest, Kevin and I have worked together for a
There are many reasons for these dis-
and ensure against risks, many Black quarter century now, and he is the last
parities, starting foremost with Amer-
families struggle to translate the in- remaining member of my original staff
ica’s original sin: slavery. And descend-
come they earn to genuine genera- when I was first sworn into Congress
ants of African slaves in District Five
tional wealth. back in 1995.
expect restorative financial justice in While I am happy for Kevin that he
Based on data from the Federal Re-
the form of reparations. will soon have more time to spend with
serve’s Survey of Consumer Finance,
We also know that a reason the prob- his lovely wife, Pam, and his wonderful
the typical Black family has only 10
lem persists well into the 21st century children, Spike, Katie, and Elizabeth,
cents for every dollar held by the typ-
is the availability of capital to Black- he will be impossible to replace. Over
ical White family.
owned businesses and the success of This wealth gap dates back to the the years, Kevin has played an integral
Black banks. The higher the circula- decades after emancipation and has re- role in nearly every legislative accom-
tion of dollars in the community, the mained stubbornly persistent. Red- plishment we have achieved for Ohio’s
greater the economic stability and op- lining, a practice that designates Black First Congressional District and for
portunities for economic growth. communities as unfavorable for home the American people.
According to the University of Geor- loans and business investment, reduces Kevin Fitzpatrick is the kind of per-
gia’s Selig Center for Economic property values and increases interest son who can build an instant rapport
Growth, money circulates one time rates in many neighborhoods, trends with anyone, a skill that is extremely
within the African-American commu- that have impacted African Americans valuable in politics. Whether it is a
nity, compared to more than six times for a century. family here from back home in Cin-
in the Latinx community, nine times Largely excluded from the generous cinnati, a foreign dignitary, or even a
in the Asian community, and an unlim- financial incentives of the New Deal, political opponent, Kevin is always
ited amount of times within the White the Black community was boxed out of ready with a disarming story that puts
community. the country’s post World War II boom others at ease.
A Black Star Project study on the ra- that vastly expanded the American Although he has worked on the Hill
cial wealth gap calculates that a dollar middle class. for a long time, Kevin’s roots are back
circulates 6 hours in the Black commu- Despite laws prohibiting loan dis- in Ohio. He grew up with his loving
nity, 20 days in the Jewish community, crimination on the basis of race, the family in Shelby, Ohio, and graduated
and 30 days in the Asian community. Congressional Black Caucus still calls from Miami University back in the
Black people have an estimated $1.3 on regulatory agencies to improve en- days when not only the Washington
trillion gross national income, but only forcement at a national level. Black professional football team but also
2 percent is recirculated in the Black and Latinx home buyers are signifi- Miami were known as the Redskins.
community. cantly more likely than Whites to be Kevin nearly became a candidate for
Keeping Black dollars in the Black turned down for a conventional mort- office himself when he was asked to
community is harder than it sounds. In gage loan. consider running against a then young
her TEDx Talk about the impact of A recent analysis from Zillow shows Ohio State Representative named
Black dollars being spent outside of the that in 2016, nearly 21 percent of Black SHERROD BROWN. Had he not decided
Black community, author and activist applicants were denied a conventional against it, Kevin might well be serving
Maggie Anderson shares a story about loan, while 15.5 of Latinx were. And in with me here in the House, rather than
an empowerment experiment during 2016, Asian applicants were denied a having this speech given in his honor
which her family attempted to pur- conventional loan in 10.4 percent of today.
chase Black-made products from cases—slightly more than the national I am actually the third Congressman
Black-owned businesses for 1 year. average—and Whites in only 8.1 percent Kevin has worked for. His first job in
Anderson uncovered a discouraging of cases. Washington was for legendary Ohio
picture of a vast economic divide. She According to a New America report, conservative Congressman John
discusses how L’Oreal owns one of the many banks also hinder Black wealth Ashbrook, who interestingly ran
largest Black beauty brands in the creation with discriminatory practices against Richard Nixon in the Repub-
world, SoftSheen-Carson, dem- in service offerings. lican Presidential primary in 1972.
onstrating a White-owned business In communities of color, banks Later, Kevin worked for Congress-
profiting from a market of exclusively charge more for opening and maintain- man Duncan Hunter, Sr. on the Repub-
Black buyers. ing basic, entry-level checking ac- lican Research Committee, which was
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with HOUSE
counts. part of leadership at the time.
b 1115 The minimum opening deposit is When I ran and won my seat in Con-
She estimates that up to 80 percent higher in majority Black neighbor- gress in 1994 in the Republican revolu-
of the revenue of White-owned Hen- hoods, $80.60, and in neighborhoods tion, I was a Washington outsider and
nessy cognac comes from Black con- without a racial majority, $97, than in so were most of my supporters. I des-
sumers, but the company has no Black White neighborhoods, $68.50. perately needed someone who knew not
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H7058 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 9, 2020
only Ohio, but also had the experience Mr. Speaker, I thank Kevin for his Unfortunately, her kids were not eli-
and understood how to get things done service, his dedication, and his friend- gible for that, and at least she feels
here in Washington. And that made ship. He will be missed. they are being significantly discrimi-
Kevin Fitzpatrick a natural fit as my f nated against, and hatred is being dis-
legislative director. played by the American Government.
I have served on three committees THE NIGHTMARE IS ALMOST OVER Here is real hatred and real bias.
during my 25 years here in Congress: The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Is she right? Is there really U.S. Gov-
Foreign Affairs, Judiciary, and Small Chair recognizes the gentleman from ernment hatred and bias against people
Business. Kevin has had a profound im- New Jersey (Mr. PAYNE) for 5 minutes. who got married?
pact on my policy agenda on all three Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise How did this happen? I have talked
committees over the years. today to declare that our 4-year public about this issue before, and people
On Foreign Affairs, we have worked nightmare is almost at an end. imply that maybe it happened by mis-
on more issues than I could possibly re- Next month, Joe Biden will be sworn take, not just the Pell Grant program,
late here, but some of our most signifi- in as the 46th President after an hon- but other government assistance pro-
cant accomplishments have been in ad- est, free, and fair election, and an ugly grams just inadvertently sprung up and
vancing the relationship between the chapter in America’s history will be punished people who got married.
United States and our democratic ally, over. However, in this election I had a lit-
No more governing by tweet. No tle bit of an eye-opener.
Taiwan, in the face of the existential
more constant lies. No more insulting In this election we had Black Lives
threat posed by communist China.
our Nation while praising our enemies. Matter get involved. If you read the
Kevin was instrumental in helping me
No more incompetent family members website, which was eventually scrubbed
create the Congressional Taiwan Cau-
conducting national policy. No more or taken down in part about two
cus, along with former Congressmen
gross profiteering off of the Presidency. months ago with a month left to go in
Robert Wexler, Dana Rohrabacher, and No more children in cages. No more the campaign, on its website it said,
then-Representative, now Senator promoting of white supremacy. No first of all, two of its three co-founders
SHERROD BROWN. more attacks on American institutions
Over the years, we have pushed many were trained Marxists, and secondly, it
like the FBI, the courts, schools, and said one of their goals was to disrupt
pro-democracy and pro-Taiwan initia-
the post office and so many others. No the western-prescribed nuclear family
tives, one of the most significant being
more payoffs. No more conspiracy structure.
the Taiwan Travel Act, which will now theories. No more recounting ballots. First of all, I think they are a little
allow diplomatic visits between top And a future with no more coronavirus, bit historically inaccurate. I think
U.S. and Taiwanese officials. hopefully. there are all sorts of cultures in the
Judiciary. Throughout his life, Kevin For the last 4 years, we have been world, other than just European cul-
has been a warrior for the unborn. He told to make America great. When Jo- tures, in which you have a wife and a
has played a significant role in the pro- seph R. Biden is sworn in as President husband and kids. But nevertheless,
motion of pro-life legislative initia- of the United States, we can say that they clearly consider it a problem. And
tives. Those efforts ultimately led to we finally did. it doesn’t surprise me that this group
the most significant Federal pro-life The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mem- would have this on their website that
legislation enacted since the infamous bers are reminded to refrain from en- they consider it a problem, since they
Roe v. Wade decision, the Federal ban gaging in personalities toward the were founded by two Marxists.
on partial birth abortion signed into President. And when I think of Marxists, I think
law by President Bush back in 2003 and f of three things: First of all, of course,
ultimately upheld to be constitutional I think of Socialism and the fact that
by the U.S. Supreme Court. Kevin was ELECTION THOUGHTS
government should own everything,
front and center in those efforts, and I The SPEAKER pro tempore. The and we shouldn’t have lots of different
know he is as proud of that accom- Chair recognizes the gentleman from people own lots of different businesses
plishment as I am. Wisconsin (Mr. GROTHMAN) for 5 min- or different rental units or what have
In recent years, Kevin has led the utes. you. They want everything controlled
Small Business Committee as my staff Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, we by the government.
director. In that role, Kevin has put to- just wrapped up an election here, and The other two things I always think
gether what I believe to be the best we were told this election was about of when I think of Marxism is: First of
committee staff on the Hill: Jan Oliver, hatred and bias. I don’t really know all, they hate God. And whether you
Joe Hartz, Rob Yavor, Delia Barr, Alli- any haters on my campaign, and I are talking about countries in which
son Kerman, Vivian Ling, and Rachel don’t think there is this huge amount Marxists take over, be it Red China,
Emmons. of bias, in general, in this country that Vietnam, Russia, they follow Karl
Perhaps the greatest testament to some people tried to make this election Marx in saying abolition of religion is
Kevin’s leadership occurred earlier this about. demanded for the true happiness of
year with the creation and implemen- Recently, I did have a woman come people. So when I associate Marxism
tation of the Paycheck Protection Pro- up to me from my district talking and people associating with such a
gram, or PPP. This critical program about real bias and perhaps hatred in group, I associate the hatred for God.
saved millions of small businesses America. She talked about her children But the other thing we have got to
across America that would otherwise who went to college. Her and her hus- remember is Karl Marx himself was
have gone under during the COVID–19 band got married before they had chil- very antifamily, and that is why I as-
pandemic, and most importantly saved dren, and both worked hard and made sume on the website it appeared that
over 50 million jobs. an average income. Both of her kids Black Lives Matter wants to disrupt
Finally, during the course of Kevin had about 30 or $40,000 in student loan the western-prescribed nuclear family.
Fitzpatrick’s career, he has hired, debt, and she had good kids who were So here is a group that I am sure
trained, and mentored so many people working hard to pay off that debt. cheers programs which penalizes people
currently working both on and off the But she felt that if her and her hus- who are married and discriminates in
Hill. He has shared his knowledge, his band had not gotten married, the gov- favor of people who aren’t married.
experience, and his commitment to im- ernment probably would have given And to my surprise, people did not run
proving our country with each and them something they couldn’t get as from this group.
every one of them. married and working people. Her kids To me, every politician should say
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with HOUSE
It will now be their turn to teach new may have gotten $30,000 plus in Pell for some groups, I am not going to ask
staff members how to make the peo- Grants, and they were probably eligible for your help. Years ago, when I was in
ple’s House truly work for the people. for other grants. At least in the State the State legislature, I fought the drug
They couldn’t have had a better of Wisconsin you would receive similar companies who I think are over-drug-
teacher, a better mentor, or a better State grants, as well as be eligible for ging our kids. I fought the drug compa-
example than Kevin Fitzpatrick. a work study program. nies who I think were prescribing too
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