Hoyer Remarks at the 41st Annual Black History Month Breakfast

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) spoke this morning at the 41th Annual Black History Month Breakfast. For 41 years, Congressman Hoyer has helped bring together community leaders, elected officials, and Fifth District residents at the Black History Month Breakfast to celebrate the many achievements of Black Marylanders and Americans. Today, he was joined by community members, co-Chair Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04), Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14), and Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, Assistant Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who delivered the keynote address. Below are his remarks as delivered.

"Thank you very much, Anthony. I am so very honored and pleased, and excited about serving with you as the co-Representatives of Prince George's County, Maryland, and the entire state. One state that we have the opportunity to represent, and you have done that so very well. Now, I would be inclined to call you Attorney General at this point in time, but you're not there yet, but I'm sure you're going to be there. We're going to miss you from the Congress of the United States. Thank you for your service.

"And I want to thank Karmen, your wife who has been involved with this Black History [Month] breakfast for a very long period of time. Thank you, Karmen. I want to thank my friend [Senator] Ben Cardin, who [is] here, and Senator [Chris] Van Hollen. What a wonderful pair of United States Senators we have. They are leaders in every sense of the word. They're leaders for the interests of our country, of inclusion and diversity, and indivisibility. One nation, one nation, indivisible, we say—unfortunately, we're too divided today.

"I also want to thank Congresswoman Lauren Underwood for being with us. I'm going to talk about her in just a minute. And of course, my dear, dear friend, the Speaker of the House, a historic Speaker, I had the opportunity of introducing you to [Speaker] Nancy Pelosi, another historic Speaker, the first and only woman Speaker of the House Representatives, Adrienne Jones, the first and only African-American woman and woman to be Speaker of the House [in Maryland]. Congratulations, Adrienne, and thank you for your extraordinary leadership. And of course, what can I say about my friend Angela Alsobrooks? All of you know that if she run for governor, I would have been a very, very strong supporter of hers. She has done an outstanding job as our State's Attorney, an outstanding job as our County Executive, and she is a person of such worth and integrity, and wisdom. Thank you, Angela, for your leadership.

"Let me say before I mention a few other people, that I'm pleased that we're doing this. And last year I was pleased that the virtual Black History Breakfast went so very well, and this is going very well as well. However, I want to say I am really sad that we cannot be together personally, that we cannot be shaking one another's hands, giving one another, a hug and a smile, and say ‘atta boy' or ‘atta girl.' The fact of the matter is that this is good technology, but it doesn't replace the human interaction that we've had for 39 years in this Black History [Month] breakfast. And hopefully, we will get back with you very, very soon.

"I also want to thank Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett for being with us. What an extraordinary African-American, but what an extraordinary citizen of our country, an extraordinary American who has made a difference in the lives of so many people. And Jackie Rhone, thank you for chairing this, and [the] Black History [Month] Breakfast [Planning Committee]. Thank you for always being there and spending all year, all year, getting ready for this day. And my friend Sudafi Henry, who chairs the Black History Promotion and Education Committee, which allows for this to be on, and what a great job, Kelby, you're doing as our emcee. And I want to particularly thank my friend, Abi Koya, who sang the National Anthem, she is doing a great job, as well as Pastor Spence and Pastor Freeman for being with us.

"Good morning, everybody. Along with my co-Chair, Representative Brown, I want to thank you all for joining us for the 41st annual Black History Month breakfast from Maryland's 4th and 5th Congressional Districts. Now let me say just briefly behind me, here you see the [past] speakers, and I'm not going to mention them all, but I want to mention some. Judge James Taylor, a very dear friend of mine, was our first [keynote] speaker, the first African-American to be an Assistant Attorney, State's Attorney for Prince George's County, the first African member of the Prince George's County Bar Association and the first African-American judge on the Circuit Court for Prince George County. What a historic figure James Taylor, a trailblazer, and perhaps most generations that have come after him don't know who he was, but he was a trailblazer.

"Congressman Parren Mitchell, Marion Barry, Congressman John Lewis, my dear, dear friend, with whom I walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge 15 times. Half of those [times] hand-in-hand with my brother, John. Mayor Sharon Pratt Dixon, District of Columbia. Eric Holder, who was the Attorney General of the United States. Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., Mayor Anthony Williams and then more recently, Tony Brown, the American Journalist, and Senator Barack Obama in 2006 to-be President of the United States. What a historic figure he has been and remains. Doug Wilder, the first African-American Governor. And Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski was a speaker. I know Dr. Corbett, you're excited about succeeding him as a speaker, and I know he is extraordinarily proud of you.

"Congressman Jim Clyburn, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Dr. Carla Hayden, our own from Baltimore, who was now the librarian of the Library of Congress – first African-American woman, first woman. Dr. Lonnie Bunch, who put together the African-American History and Culture [Museum], which is so stunning. And of course, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, the Chair of the Democratic Caucus to the House of Representatives, and Congresswoman Val Demings, now running for the United States Senate. And last year, virtually, our own Vice President [of the] United States, Kamala Harris. So we've had an extraordinary history, and this one is an extraordinary one as well. So let me thank all of those who have participated.

"Now, before I move on to some other remarks, let me say to my good friend Betty Hewlett, Betty, I love you. You know that you have been such a loyal supporter of this breakfast, but much more importantly, such a loyal supporter of Prince George's County government and the Washington Metropolitan area. You have made such a difference. You're now retiring from the Prince George's County Planning Board and Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, of which you're the Chair. You have been a great supporter of this breakfast and an extraordinary producer of good for our community in your present position. Thank you, Betty Hewlett.

"It's my great honor to participate in this event each year, and I cherish the opportunity to reflect on and celebrate Black history and the contribution of so many African-Americans to the richness of our history, as well as to some of the saddest days of our history. Black history, however, as Anthony said, it's not just about the past. We are living in a moment when Black history is being made as we are engaged in a crucial and difficult battle to secure the right to vote.

"Senator Cardin talked about it, Senator Van Hollen talked about it, Congressman Brown talked about it, and we need to keep focus on this. The right to vote that so many Black Americans were unable to enjoy for most of our history, and that heroes like Dr. King and John Lewis sacrificed so much to secure as well as thousands of others. The health of our democracy is endangered by the continued assault on voting rights across the country. Just recently, the Republican National Committee, in looking at the events of January 6, which were to set aside the votes of millions of Americans to claim it was a fraud, to claim that President Biden and Kamala Harris were not legitimately elected, said an extraordinarily shameful thing. The opposition party, they looked at that activity of January 6 criminal insurrectionists activity and said it was 'legitimate political discourse.'

"If there are very many people in America who believe what the Republican National Committee said about that being 'legitimate political discourse,' think of the motivation [this] give[s] to some who are angry, and who are violent, and who want to see their government run as they dictate, not [as] the people dictate. These are the times when it is important for us to vote. Restrictions that are on voting are nothing more than a resuscitation of a more sophisticated 21st Century Jim Crow, and indeed counting marbles in a jar.

"John will be the first, John Lewis, to encourage us to get into ‘good trouble' in pursuit of that goal, and I'm proud of the work that the House Democrats have been doing to pass legislation in John's memory to protect the right to vote for every eligible American. I want to remind you every Democrat, every Democrat in the Senate and in the House unanimously were for the voting rights bill or the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights [Advancement] Act – every Democrat. Unfortunately, not a single Republican in the United States Senate [was], and you needed 10 to support it so it could move forward. We're not giving up. Giving up is not an option. We need to face the rising sun and make sure that we fight until the battle's won, and we'll keep working to make sure that Americans can vote by mail.

"It's been mentioned before, but if you've not already, you will shortly be receiving an application from the Board of Elections to sign up to vote by mail in the 2022 primary and general elections. This application includes a place where you can add to the permanent vote by mail [list], list your name and automatically receive a mail-in ballot for this election and every election thereafter. Be on the lookout for this application and don't throw it out. Remember it is not your ballot, it's the application for the ballot. Voting by mail is easy and secure and frankly led to the highest turnout in the Presidential election in history in the last election. When it comes to protecting the right to vote, giving up, as I said, is not an option. We will continue this fight and march on till victory is won.

"Meanwhile, the past year continue[s] to challenge us with a public health crisis that impacted the lives and livelihoods of so many families in our communities in this time of great difficulty. It is fitting that the theme of this Black History Month is Black Health and Wellness as the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year. Think of it – [the] third year, [and] we feel its effects on every aspect of our lives. People are frustrated, angry and anxious, and as we celebrate Black History Month this year, we pay tribute to the tremendous contributions of Black health care workers who have been helping to lead the fight against COVID 19 in our communities. We also recognize the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black communities. [County Executive] Angela Alsobrooks spoke of that. It's led to so much heartbreaking loss and many hospitalized with severe disease at higher rates than other groups. Over 900,000 of our fellow citizens have died, and disproportionately they have been people of color.

"Yet as we wade through a river, hope has stirred our hearts. Successful development and deployment of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines last year breathed new life into our fight against this virus. The groundbreaking medical advances of mRNA vaccines expanded the boundaries of our scientific knowledge while helping to curb the spread and severity of the disease worldwide. Thank you, Dr. Corbett, and all those with whom you work. These critical advances are in no small measure, thanks to our keynote speaker today and her colleagues in the field of immunology. Dr. Corbett's research and contributions have undoubtedly saved countless lives thousands, perhaps millions, and alleviated untold suffering. I am very excited, as I know you are, to hear from her soon, and she joins the very long list – some of whom I just read – of distinguished and notable keynote speakers we welcome to this breakfast.

"Over the years, as we reflect on the theme of Black Health and Wellness, it's important that we also recognize that this encompasses more than just physical health. Again, I think Senator Cardin mentioned this and others. The pandemic and other challenges facing Black communities has taken a toll on mental health as well, and the mental health of all Americans. We must renew our efforts to overcome the stigma on seeking mental health care and understanding that many in our communities are struggling in silence. Last month, we lost a leader in our County to that struggle. Mayor Kevin Ward of Hyattsville was an emerging leader and someone who had already made great contribution to our communities, in education, public safety, equal rights and opportunity. As we reflect on his life and his past, let us acknowledge the rise in suicide among Black Americans, which must be addressed. There is no shame in seeking help with mental health. It's an act of courage and self-kindness.

"I urge anyone struggling to seek the support they need. There is a profound healing power in human connection and community. Just as there is an extraordinary connected power in our shared work of learning about and celebrating Black history in which we, as Americans can find hope and comfort and yes, even resilience. So I want to thank all of you for being a part of this wonderful program today. We are fortunate to have so many talented musical performers, which I thank for them being here. They've added real substance to this program as culture, and song, and prose, and poetry so often do, and thoughtful speakers, and I look forward to joining you just a little later in the program. Thank you for being here and let's enjoy the balance of the program."

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"In a few moments, I will introduce a Congresswoman whose career perfectly embodies the theme of 'Black Health and Wellness.'

"Rep. Lauren Underwood is the first woman, person of color, and millennial to represent Illinois' Fourteenth District, and she is the youngest African American woman to serve in the House of Representatives. She is a trailblazer not only in representation, but in her innovative leadership to solve one of the most urgent public-health issues facing the nation.

"Rep. Underwood co-founded and co-Chairs the Congressional Black Maternal Health Caucus, which elevates this issue within Congress and seeks policy solutions to end disparities and improve maternal health outcomes. I was very proud to be a co-founding member of this Caucus because it is so important to raise awareness of this issue and work to address it, and I want to thank Rep. Underwood for her tremendous leadership in this effort. I was honored to welcome Rep. Underwood to Maryland last April to host a virtual roundtable on Black maternal health and to participate in that discussion along with Rep. Brown and Rep. Alma Adams from North Carolina.

"Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications and are twice as likely to lose an infant to a premature death. We cannot tolerate this; Black women and their families deserve better. Before her time in the House, Rep. Underwood worked with a Medicaid plan in Chicago to ensure that residents received quality care. She also served as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to public health emergencies. I admire Rep. Underwood a great deal, and I am proud to serve alongside her in the Congress.

"I am certain that she will continue to have a distinguished career in public service and in leading efforts to improve the health and well-being of her constituents and of all Americans. Please join me in welcoming Rep. Underwood."

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"Thank you very much, and thanks for the wonderful job you done. And boy, Lauren Underwood, were you absolutely right? What a dynamite message Dr. Corbett, you gave to us, and I was so inspired not only by the message, but also by the messenger and what you have done and the obstacles you've overcome. Freeman Hrabowski happens not only to be the President of UMBC, but a very, very dear friend of mine for decades. And I know that - I don't know that he was watching. I'm annoyed at myself for not calling him up and telling [him that] Dr. Corbett was going to be our speaker, because I know he would have watched and he would have been just bursting with pride.

"He is so proud of what UMBC has done. And boy, Dr. Corbett, what a wonderful example you are of the product that has been produced at UMBC and the mission and vision of Freeman Hrabowski, just magnificent. Thank you very, very much for being with us. And I'm just sorry it's not in person and that we don't have the virus because I'd give you a big hug and thank you for an extraordinary message. You said something about persistence and you know, we sang Lift Every Voice and Sing, [which] the Johnson Brothers wrote. I quote the ending lines all the time: ‘let us march on till victory is won.' Persistence. That's what Martin Luther King talked about. That's what John Lewis, when he said, ‘keep the faith.' Keep the faith, even though you face obstacles, some human and some natural as this virus is.

"But thank you so much for making the point that we have made some progress. We've made progress historically for a long period of time, but there is so much that yet needs to be done. So thank you, Dr. Corbett, wonderful, wonderful message. And your personality came through as one of caring, and persistence, and of getting the job done for the welfare of all of our people. I also want to thank the Planning Committee for its work hosting another successful Black History [Month] Breakfast. I think this has been wonderful again. Virtual is not personal, it's not in person. And I want to get back to in-person. But boy, this has been a great blessing, I think, for all of us. The event sponsors, I want to thank one more time whose support made this program possible. I want to thank you, my dear friend, Sudafi Henry, as well for his leadership and all of the sponsors. I won't mention you again. That made this program possible. I want to thank all the participants, the people who brought us inspiration and song, whether by instrument or by voice. They were all wonderful.

"A truly meaningful event that we will surely be talking about for a long time to come. Now again, usually at the end of this breakfast, I get at the door, and as I shook a lot of hands coming in, I shake a lot of hands going out, and give a lot of hugs. And everybody says, ‘Boy, this is the best one we've had,' and they seem to really get better. But we have certainly been blessed with extraordinary speakers and not only the featured speaker, but boy, I aren't you impressed with Lauren Underwood as I am? I'm always so inspired and uplifted coming away from this breakfast. It is a reminder that our nation has come so far away, [but] you still have so much road stretching ahead of us, which to march forward to make our union more perfect. We reflect on what we've heard today, not only songs of faith, but faith in our ability to overcome our adversity, which Dr. Corbett clearly is committed to.

"Now I am honored to invite by my friend Abi Koya to perform today another musical selection. I first met her at an event downtown in Washington, DC, and she sang a number of songs. I was so impressed that I told my staff, Look, I want to see if we can get her to come out. And she did come a couple of years ago, and I am so pleased that she's here with us today, even if it's virtually. I have the singular pleasure of hearing her, and I know you will count yourself blessed when she is finished. When she's finished, we'll have a benediction delivered by Pastor James Spence Jr. of the Oasis Victory Christian Church International in Lexington Park, St. Mary's County, Maryland. Again, thank all of you for attending the 41st Black History Month breakfast this morning. And for so many of you, you know, usually I have a show of hands, how many have you been here - to 41, to 32, 20 to 10? And there are so many of you who have been to essentially multiple tens, multiple decades of this history, purpose, and you make a difference. You make a difference in our community. You make a difference at the breakfast. And I want all of you to know you make a difference in inspiring me and lifting me up in troubled times, in difficult times and challenging times to be the best Representative of Prince George's County that I can be, and I know that my co-Chair, Anthony Brown, shares that view. God bless all of you. God bless our country. Please join me in welcoming Abi Koya and then Pastor Spence."