August 18, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 147 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session
HONORING ERRICK D. SIMMONS; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 147
(Extensions of Remarks - August 18, 2020)
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[Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E771-E772] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] HONORING ERRICK D. SIMMONS ______ HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON of mississippi in the house of representatives Tuesday, August 18, 2020 Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant, Mr. Errick D. Simmons. After a historic landslide win for mayor in 2015, Mayor Errick D. Simmons, the first black male mayor of the City of Greenville, Mississippi, won re-election to his second term as mayor in 2019 without facing an opposing candidate. Mayor Errick D. Simmons began his career in municipal government as a city councilman in 2007, as the youngest to serve in the position at that time. Before returning home to Greenville to start his legal and municipal government career, Simmons graduated salutatorian in his class at T.L. Weston High School in 1995, second to his twin brother and law partner, Mississippi State Senator Derrick T. Simmons, who is the Senate Minority Leader for Democratic Party. Simmons later studied at Jackson State University, where he received a Bachelor in Business Administration in Economics in 2000. In 2002, he received a Master's in Arts in Economics from Howard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and received his Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law in 2005. While at Howard University School of Law, Simmons was team captain of the Howard University Huver I. Brown Trial Advocacy Team, the first HBCU law school to win the American Bar Association Competition, defeating two-time reigning champion Harvard University. This historic win was placed in the Congressional Record, and featured across national media outlets including but not limited to Chicago Defender, Dallas Examiner, Ebony, and Jet Magazine. Currently, Simmons serves as a member of several local, state, and national boards and organizations, to name a few: President, Mississippi Delta Mayors Association, 1st Vice President of Mississippi Municipal League (MML) (to be sworn in as President in June 2021), Vice President of Delta Council, Mississippi Economic Council Board of Governors, Boys Scouts of America, U.S. Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, life member of NAACP, life member of Magnolia Bar Association, life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., board member of Mississippi Association of Justice, Mississippi Bar Association, and Chairman of Washington County Democratic Executive Committee. In the Christian spirit of unity, Mayor Simmons pushed a message of ``One People, One Goal, and One Greenville: We are One'' to promote unity and foster togetherness when he became mayor in 2016. The community has taken on the call to unify and work more collectively for a better Greenville. Keeping God as the center of his administration, Simmons first initiative was a faith-based one entitled, ``Worship on the Water'' where faith-based leaders across the Mississippi Delta joined him for such announcement. Worship on the Water is a nationally recognized, interfaith, interracial initiative that fosters community and promote unity on the fifth Sunday, of every month purposed on bringing people together regardless of racial identity or religious affiliation. Simmons states, ``Psalm 100 demands us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. On the fifth Sunday of every month, residents and citizens come and worship at the water on our levee front to make a joyful noise together in corporate worship. Folks are not restricted by the color of their skin nor confined by their churches' addresses. We come to exalt God as one community.'' Worship on the Water received the U.S. Conference of Mayors' 2017 City Livability Outstanding Achievement Award presented by President Bill Clinton. In the name of social justice, racial equity, and inclusion for all, the very first order of business for Mayor Simmons as Mayor of Greenville was the removal of the Mississippi State flag containing the confederate emblem from all municipal buildings in January of 2016. Simmons later announced the City's first ever re-entry program entitled, Greenville Re-Entry and Training Program (GREAT), a program aimed to hire and train returning citizens throughout the City. The City of Greenville hired its very first returning citizen on March 1, 2018. Under his administration as mayor, Greenville has announced more than $200 million in local, state, federal, and corporate investments including the announcement of a $40.1 million new federal courthouse; a $71.46 million Greenville Freight Corridor Bypass from the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America program; $25 million MARS Uncle Ben's R & D Investment; a $9.l million redevelopment of the Sears, Roebuck & Company building to include a boutique hotel, microbrewery, downtown restaurant, and butcher shop. In August 2018, an estimated 100 new jobs were announced through economic development projects. Nufarm announced 68 manufacturing jobs with a $20 million investment, the first such announcement in Greenville since Textron in 2004. Tru by Hilton announced an 84 room hotel with 30 jobs with an estimated $10 million investment. Some other accomplishments in his administration are worth noting: ``Announced the Reserves at Ed Gray, a $6.1 million housing development project for low to moderate income families where the City donated a city park to create safe and affordable housing. Held Model Contractor Development Program in collaboration with Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, Mississippi Development Authority, Gene Finley with CompuRecycling Center, Inc., and other county and state partners. Held first-ever Delta Emerging Small Business Conference in collaboration with U.S. Small Business Administration, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, and other county and state partners. Held City's first ever Small Business and Brunch (B&B) in partnership with CompuRecycling Center, Inc., and other local, county, and state partners. First in Mississippi to offer Manufacturing Skills Basic Course in high schools in collaboration with economic development professionals and educational institutions. Announced Medical Pipeline with Greenville Public School District and Delta Regional Medical Center. Held National Night Out in partnership with Rural USC and MACE. Held Gas for Guns event in an effort to obtain as many guns off the streets. Began Early College with Mississippi Valley State University. Held Delta P2P, an 8th grade technology and career expo for over 2,000 public, private, and parochial school 8th graders in the Mississippi Delta. Created the City's first-ever Homelessness Committee to address homeless in the community. Formed Greenville Community Collaborative Volunteer Group to help raise awareness and provide support to residents in need. Began 2nd Grade Extravaganza for second graders in public, private, and parochial schools to learn how your local government works for you. Started city's first-ever reentry program in partnership with Rural USC and WCEA. City has an EPA sanitary sewer project of more than $100 million to fix aging infrastructure. Spent over $16 million on sewer and infrastructure repairs. Began first-ever Fire and Police Junior Kids Academies. Increased Parks and Recreation funding from $190,000 in 2015 to $600,000 in 2018, a 300 percent increase in his administration. Received $16 million dollars in airport improvements with roundtrip commercial air service to Dallas and Atlanta. Simmons has been featured on local, state, and national media outlets and newspapers for his municipal work and activism, including the Washington Post, Washington Times, CNN, Wallstreet Journal, MSNBC, New York Times, Epoch Times, Mississippi Business Journal, Associated Press, Christian Unity (featured cover story), Delta Business Journal (featured cover story), Attorney-at-Law (featured covered story); National Public Radio, Mississippi Public Radio, SuperTalk Mississippi, WBAD 94.3, Delta Radio 97.7, Keep Hope Alive with Reverend Jesse Jackson, Delta Democrat Times, just to name a few. Striving to bring consumers onto a level playing field with corporations and citizens [[Page E772]] under the protection of the Constitution, Mayor and Attorney Errick D. Simmons is the cofounder of a personal injury and criminal defense law firm that has gained notable successes and a stellar reputation of achieving results in and outside the courtroom. Simmons, his twin brother, and their law firm cheerfully give to the community. Among several other things, the Simmons family sponsors an annual Christmas Toy Give-a-way, providing toys to nearly 600 needy children and families annually. To date, Simmons family has held their toy giveaway for ten consecutive years serving more than 5,000 children. Additionally, Mayor Simmons financially contributes to both Jackson State University, Howard University, and faithbased, charitable, civic, and social organizations. He is a mason and member of the Greater Springfield Baptist Church in Greenville, Mississippi where Mark S. Buckner is pastor. He is the son of the late J.C. Simmons, Jr. and Alzena Bruce Simmons. He and his wife, Dr. Temika M. Simmons, have three children, Errick, Eriel, and Elin. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Errick D. Simmons for his dedication to serving others and giving back to his community ____________________