[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H1053-H1054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO KWEISI MFUME

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hayworth). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from the Virgin Islands [Mr. Frazer] is recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FRAZER. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor to join my colleagues in 
the special order honoring Congressman Kweisi Mfume. For the past 8 
years Mr. Mfume has served this body with distinction and honor.
  He led the fight for fairness and equity in Federal contracting for 
small and minority businesses. During the 103d Congress Mr. Mfume 
chaired the House Small Business Subcommittee on Minority Business. 
Under his leadership the committee investigated Federal agencies who 
were in noncompliance with Public Law 95-507, the Small Business Act. 
As a result of that investigation those agencies have established small 
disadvantage business offices and are meeting their contractual goals 
for small and minority businesses. Mr. Mfume is a master negotiator. He 
has the ability to listen, synthesize, and reach compromises when a 
impasse seem inevitable. He has negotiated with Members on both sides 
of the aisle, because he is open-minded and does not let ideology 
prevent him from getting the job done.
  The U.S. House of Representatives is a better place because of Mr. 
Mfume's, leadership. Members who have served with him always respected 
his ability to build consensus. I know these qualities will be 
tremendous asset to him as he goes forward to be the chief executive 
officer of the NAACP.
  For those who will ask why would Kweisi Mfume leave one of he safest 
districts in this body, it is because he is a selfless person.
  Mr. Speaker and other Members, there is no doubt in anybody's mind 
that Kweisi Mfume would be elected if he chose to run in November and 
Novembers and Novembers after that, but he is leaving what is 
obviously, as we said, a safe seat to take on the task of the NAACP at 
a time when it is most troubled and needs leadership. I, too, applaud 
the NAACP for choosing the best person to sail the ship out of troubled 
waters.
  Mr. Speaker, Kweisi Mfume has caused many young people, especially 
black African-American males, to recognize the political side of the 
country, and because of him, they are coming forward in large numbers 
and partaking.
  Kweisi Mfume, I applaud you for the service to this body. I wish you 
well, and I thank you for being a friend.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Maryland [Mrs. Morella].
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to add my voice to the chorus of colleagues 
who are singing the praises of Kweisi Mfume. We both were elected to 
serve the people of Maryland during the 100th Congress. I have enjoyed 
his friendship, and I have appreciated his courage and determination to 
fight for those Americans whose voices are often not heard in the halls 
of Congress.
  Kweisi Mfume grew up on the streets of west Baltimore where he was 
known as Frizzel Grey. The people who still live there are proud of 
Kweisi, proud that he made something of himself. The old neighborhood 
is deteriorating and impoverished, but Kweisi keeps going back there--
to his roots. He believes that the work he has been doing in Washington 
can only be relevant if it has an impact on his old neighborhood.
  Although he has been an outspoken advocate of equitable and excellent 
education for women and minorities, scholarship wasn't always high on 
Kweisi's agenda. He was a high school dropout who hung out on 
Baltimore's streets drinking and swapping stories. He turned his life 
around during the 1970's when he changed his name and worked toward a 
high school equivalency degree. Then it was on to Morgan State and 
Johns Hopkins University. 

[[Page H1054]]

  His name is pronounced ``Kwah-EE-see Oom-FOO-may,'' and it hasn't 
hampered him one bit. He adopted the name during the 1970's because he 
wanted to embrace his African heritage. It means ``conquering son of 
kings.''
  During his 9 years in Congress, Kweisi Mfume has distinguished 
himself with an impressive record of advocacy for human rights and 
social justice. As the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, he 
strengthened and brought national attention to a growing organization, 
establishing a rapport with African-American communities across the 
Nation and boosting the organization's reputation and morale.
  I could go on and on, and I know I will in my extension of remarks, 
but I want to say that he has worked also for what he believes in with 
people on both sides of the aisle. I, for one, can attest to that. As 
Shakespeare would have said of him, the force of his own merit makes 
his way; and for me, here is a dear and true industrious friend. I will 
miss you.
  I know that we will be working together as you chair the NAACP, and 
from the bottom of my heart, you are a good friend, and you have been a 
great statesman. Thank you.
  I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.

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