[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 40 (Thursday, March 21, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H2663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     GEORGIA AYERS, WOMAN OF THE YEAR FROM FLORIDA'S 17TH DISTRICT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Meek] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, in our celebration of Women's 
History Month, we have chosen to honor exceptional women in public 
service. I rise here tonight to honor the Woman of the Year from my 
congressional district, Ms. Georgia Ayers, of Miami, FL.
  Over the decade I have known Georgia Ayers, she has been a living 
example of the ideals of community service. She has dedicated her 
tremendous talents and energies--her life--to benefit others. She not 
only believes in helping those who have less in life--regardless of 
their race, creed, or gender, but she lives it. She started with few 
advantages herself, but chose to give her life to helping others get 
ahead.
  Her awards and honors fill pages, and are a testimony to the respect 
she enjoys from Dade County's diverse communities. Just a few of the 
groups who have honored her include: the U.S. Coast Guard, the American 
Cancer Society, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the 
National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Dade County Public 
Schools, the Dade County Community Action Agency, and Miami-Dade 
Community College, which is the largest community college in the entire 
Nation.
  In a world where people's words don't always match their actions, 
Georgia Ayers stands out as direct, honest, and committed. Her actions 
match her words. With Ms. Ayers, you know where she stands on an issue 
and exactly what she wants to do about it, and her word is her bond. 
Yes, honest, plain-speaking and hardworking people can still make a 
difference in our society. Georgia Ayers is a shining example.
  Of all the projects that Georgia Ayers has been involved in, perhaps 
the most important has been her work with young people in trouble with 
the law. Programs she has developed have turned around young people's 
lives and helped them find and establish their places as valued members 
of the community. In helping these youngsters, whose voices are often 
not heard in our society, she reminds me of the passage from the Bible 
``whatsoever you do to the least of these, you do to Me.''

  Georgia Ayers' leadership shows all of us what one dedicated woman 
can accomplish. In 1995, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference 
honored Ms. Ayers with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award. She is 
well-deserving of this great honor, for her leadership reminds me of a 
paraphrase of Dr. King's remarks about the church. The role of a civic 
leader in our society is to be a thermostat--a changer of society, 
rather than a thermometer, which simply measures rather than molds 
popular thinking.
  Georgia Ayers shows that one strong woman can be that thermostat, and 
can change society for the better. Her life inspires and challenges us 
all. Like Georgia Ayers, if more of us took it upon ourselves to become 
thermostats instead of thermometers, I have no doubt that the 
temperature of human compassion and dignity on the Earth could be 
raised to levels beyond what we can even imagine today.
  Again, I thank Georgia Ayers for her exceptional leadership and 
service. She is truly deserving of being honored as the Woman of the 
Year.

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