mr. sewell. it's not smart. it's cruel, and it's stupid. >> mr. sewell, mr. smith, appreciate both of your being with us and helping us to understand a little bit more about the food stamp program and what it means to real families. >> thank you very much. >> coming up next, her bones are brittle but her spirit is unbreakable. how one brave teenager is fighting to do what her body cannot: live strong. >> no doubt about it, innovation changes our lives. opening doors ... opening possibilities. taking the impossible from lab ... to life. on techknow, our scientists bring you a sneak-peak of the future, and take you behind the scenes at our evolving world. techknow - ideas, invention, life. on al jazeera america >> the struggling midddle class >> we just can't get ahead... >> working longer hours, for less pay. >> people are struggling everywhere. >> school loans... morgages... inflation... taking it's toll... >> we live paycheck to paycheck... >> now in a continuing series, join ali velshi as we follow families, just like yours, as they try to get by... >> we'r

mr. sewell. it's not smart. it's cruel, and it's stupid. >> mr. sewell, mr. smith, appreciate both of your being with us and helping us to understand a little bit more about the food stamp program and what it means to real families. >> thank you very much. >> coming up next, her bones are brittle but her spirit is unbreakable. how one brave teenager is fighting to do what her body cannot: live strong. >> fault lines hard hitting... ground breaking... truth seeking... al jazeera america's breakthrough investigative documentary series. >> this is where colombia's war continues... >> decades of violence... familes driven from their land... >> we have to get out of here... >> now the people are fighting back. >> they don't wanna show what's really going on >> fault lines columbia: the fight for land only on al jazeera america real reporting that brings you the world. giving you a real global perspective like no other can. real reporting from around the world. this is what we do. al jazeera america. >> every sunday night al jazeera america brings you controversial

sewell: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise today to continue my commitment to honoring influential african-americans from alabama during this black history month. this week we honor the heroins of the movement for civil rights and voting rights. these courageous women had tremendous roles in our nation's fight for justice and equality and i'm honored to share their stories. today i honor the tremendous life and legacy of ms. amelia robinson. amelia was a key figure in the voting rights movement in selma, alabama, and she's often remembered for her historic role on bloody sunday on the he had money pet us bridge. at 102sh edmon pettus bridge. at 102 years old, she serves as a conduit of change. amelia robinson was born august 18, 1911, in savannah, georgia. her mother was an activist during the women's suffrage movement. after the passage of the 19th amendment, she and her mother would distribute voting information to women from the family's horse and buggy in the 19250es. her mother's tireless efforts to secure the righ

sewell: thank you, mr. speaker. in continuing my commitment to honoring african-americans from alabama during this black history month, today i rise to honor the renowned educator, pastor, and civil rights activist, reverend dr. frederick douglass reese on this occasion of black history month, 2014, for his dedication and distinguished service to the city of selma and the state of alabama, i pay tribute today to the life and work of reverend dr. f.d. reese. this beloved pastor and civil rights activist marched across the edmund pettus bridge in selma, alabama, in 1964, along with hundreds of other supporters. by the mid 1960's, reese was president of the dallas county voters league and was also a local teacher who presided over the selma's teachers association. discouraged by selma's efforts to hinder voter registration for african-americans, reverend reese advocated and the teachers he pressed to make sure that the student actually went to register to vote. reese invited reverend dr. martin luther king jr. and memb

mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the chair now recognizes gentlewoman sfr alabama, ms. sewell for five minutes. ms. sewell: i rise in recognition of black history month and contributions made by notable african-americans. i proclaim the month of february as a time of reflection for alabama's 7th congressional district. in honor of black history month, it would befitting to pay tribute to the native sons and daughters of alabama that made significant contributions not only to the state of alabama but to this great nation. as representative of the civil rights district and beneficiary of the sacrifices of so many, i have committed to sharing the stories of these extraordinary men and women throughout the month of february so their contributions will forever be recorded and referenced in our nation's history. today, i begin with a tribute to virgil ware and johnny robinson. these american heroes and birmingham naturetives lost their lives within hours of the of the bombing. while many of us have heard the stories of the four little girls that perished in that bomb, many are unawa