[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H1052-H1053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATIONS TO KWEISI MFUME ON HIS SELECTION AS PRESIDENT OF THE 
                                 NAACP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Payne] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I have had the great privilege 
of serving as chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus in the 104th 
Congress, taking over the reins from my good friend, Kweisi Mfume, who 
served 

[[Page H1053]]
with such distinction during the 103d Congress. He has been 
tremendously supportive and helpful to me, and I am personally grateful 
for his friendship and encouragement.
  Following his election to the House of Representatives in 1986, 
Congressman Mfume quickly gained a reputation as one of the most 
energetic and effective Members of Congress.
  As a member of the Banking and Financial Services Committee and the 
Small Business Committee, he has been active on a wide range of issues, 
including the development of minority business opportunities. He was 
successful in adding minority contracting and employment amendments to 
the Financial Institutions Reform and Recovery Act. He also played a 
leading role in strengthening the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the 
Community Reinvestment Act. In addition, he was actively involved in 
the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1991.
  Congressman Mfume's election by this colleagues to serve as chairman 
of the Congressional Black Caucus came at a historic point in time. 
President Clinton had just been elected along with 110 new Members of 
the House of Representatives. The Congressional Black Caucus had grown 
to include 39 House Members and 1 Senator.
  Congressman Mfume took on the task of chairing the Congressional 
Black Caucus with the same enthusiasm and tenacity which he brought to 
all of his other successful endeavors. He broadened the scope of the 
Caucus, reaching out to members of the business community, building new 
coalitions, and seeking the ideas and input of young people.
  While Congressman Mfume's presence in Congress will be greatly 
missed, we are thrilled that he will be using his talent and 
exceptional leadership ability to re-energize one of our Nation's most 
prominent civil rights organizations, the NAACP.
  Having joined the NAACP myself as a high school student, and later 
serving as the president of New Jersey youth councils and college 
chapters of the NAACP, I know the potential the organization has to 
guide our community through the challenges that lie ahead. In fact, I 
had the honor of attending the NAACP convention in 1957 when the 
prestigious Spingarn Award was bestowed on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  As the next leader of the NAACP, Congressman Mfume will be following 
in the distinguished tradition of such giants as W.E.B. DuBois, Walter 
White, Roy Wilkins, and Benjamin Hooks. I am certain that he will 
approach the job with the same passion for justice and equality as 
these heros of the past. Just as his chosen name indicates, no obstacle 
will impede this ``conquering son of kings'' from achieving his goals.
  Let me just close by saying that Congressman Mfume has been an 
inspiration to all of us, and to many people, young and old, throughout 
this country. His rise from his Baltimore neighborhood to the halls of 
Congress, his success against the odds and his belief in himself remind 
us of the immortal words of Rudyard Kipling, that success will come 
``If you can dream, and not make dreams your master; if you can think, 
and not make thoughts your aim; if you can meet with Triumph and 
Disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same * * *. If you can 
force your heart and nerve and sinew to serve your turn long after they 
are gone, and so hold on when there is nothing in you except the will 
which says to them: hold on * * *.''
  Again, we congratulate Congressman Mfume and look forward to our 
continued association as he takes on this exciting new challenge.
  Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.

                              {time}  1645

  Mr. MFUME. First, Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman for his 
words regarding the time that he and I have shared and many of the 
things that I have worked on here in the Congress and to say to you, 
Don, how much I appreciate the way you have also had the opportunity to 
lead this caucus, as have Congressman Towns, Congresswoman Collins, and 
others who are here on the floor.
  It is a very difficult task. In fact, it is one I say that everybody 
ought to have the opportunity to do just once, just once.
  But you are a great friend and your words are very heartfelt. I thank 
you for taking the time to come over here today. I almost feel like I 
am being memorialized, but I knew it is from your heart, and I 
appreciate all the time we have spent together here and throughout the 
country, and I wish the best for both you and your family.

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