[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO RODNEY SLATER

                                 ______


                         HON. EARL F. HILLIARD

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 28, 1996

  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Mr. Rodney Slater, 
President Clinton's Federal Highway Administrator. Recently, Mr. Slater 
was of great assistance to the small rural community of Gee's-Bend, AL, 
in authorizing a new ferryboat to replace the one dismantled by 
segregationists in 1962 in order to keep many civil rights protesters 
from easily crossing the Alabama River to march in the streets of 
Camden for their freedom.
  Mr. Slater and his staff at the Federal Highway Administration 
actually understood the need of these citizens to help transport their 
families across the Alabama River to the county seat of Wilcox County 
in Camden, AL, in a timely manner. Rather than acting like an 
impersonal bureaucratic machine, Mr. Slater's office responded with 
kindness and understanding.
  Since 1962, the predominately African-American citizens of Gee's-Bend 
have had to travel over 1 hour, each way, to visit their doctor, 
hospital, bank, and for their children to attend the public schools of 
the county due to the closing of the ferryboat.
  However, the arduous journey of these good people will soon be 
shortened from over 1 hour each way, to only 10 minutes each way, due 
to the wisdom of Administrator Slater. Mr. Slater took such an interest 
as to personally visit the proposed site of the new ferry to ensure 
that the project was needed and worthy of our taxpayers' support.
  President Clinton should be commended in selecting such an upstanding 
man of honor, integrity, and fairplay as Mr. Slater. He is a friend of 
all lovers of freedom, democracy, and equality.

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