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Sen. David Vitter

Mr. President, it is my true honor and distinct pleasure--joy, really--to help host Reverend Smith today. As the Acting President pro tempore said, Reverend Smith is the senior pastor of the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Pioneer, LA. He is from Rayville, LA. All of this is in northeast Louisiana, the Monroe area.

Reverend Smith is very distinguished and has brought real hope to so many people in so many communities in that area--first of all, as a spiritual leader, the leader of his congregation and so many others; secondly, as a true leader in fighting truancy, fighting dropout rates very effectively, and also developing good jobs through many school systems. But the third point I really want to make is that I am most joyful to help host him today because he is a true and a good and a tremendously supportive friend. I know that from personal experience, from personal counsel and encouragement, and so do so many other Louisianans know that, and we cherish the reverend in that very personal way. So I am truly honored and delighted to be able to introduce the Senate to Reverend Smith.