[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 3, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S6032]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          HONORING RALPH NEAS

  Mr. BRADLEY. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Ralph 
Neas, an outstanding leader for civil rights, who is being honored this 
evening by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.
  Tonight, as the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights [LCCR] 
celebrates its 45th anniversary as the Nation's oldest, largest and 
most broadly based civil rights coalition, Ralph Neas will be awarded 
the prestigious Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award for his 
``selfless and devoted service in the cause of equality.'' During his 
14-year tenure as the executive director of the Leadership Conference, 
Ralph has been a voice of compassion and reason and a tireless advocate 
for equality. Dubbed the ``101st Senator on Civil Rights'' by Senator 
Edward Kennedy, for his successful coordination of the lobbying efforts 
of 180 national organizations in the LCCR and for playing a major role 
in the passage of more than two dozen legislative victories, Ralph has 
demonstrated his effectiveness as a coalition builder. From the 
enactment of the 1982 Voting Rights Act extension to the recent 
enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1991, his efforts have truly made 
a difference with respect to securing civil rights for millions of 
Americans.
  Ralph's role in the civil rights community has not been limited to 
advocacy for the legislative arm of the civil rights community. In 
addition to his lobbying and legal research efforts, Ralph took on the 
role of executive director of the Leadership Conference Educational 
Fund. This independent organization supports numerous educational 
activities relevant to civil rights such as: an award winning public 
service advertising campaign promoting tolerance and diversity; a 
children's anti-discrimination campaign; and the publication of books 
and reports on emerging civil rights issues.
  Today, when our country is increasingly a mixture of races, languages 
and religions, I am delighted to pay tribute to the efforts of an 
individual who recognizes the importance of both preserving and 
celebrating the diversity of our society. The reality is that America 
is essentially a pair of ideals--liberty and equality. However, these 
are ideals that are still unrealized. To realize these ideals we need 
to recognize that our increasing ethnic and racial diversity is a 
remarkable opportunity. We need to recognize that we will either all 
advance together, or each of us will be diminished. Ralph Neas has 
spent the better part of a distinguished career working to ensure 
that--no matter the color of our skin, the shape of our eyes, our 
religion, our gender--we all advance together. I salute Ralph Neas for 
the dedication and leadership he has so generously given to the civil 
rights community and congratulate him on being awarded the Hubert H. 
Humphrey Civil Rights Award.


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