[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 135 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H11363-H11364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO HAROLD FORD, SR.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Clement] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Speaker, U.S. Representative Harold Ford is serving 
his 11th consecutive term as Tennessee's Ninth District Congressman. He 
is the first and only African-American Tennessean elected to the U.S. 
House of Representatives. Prior to his election to Congress, he served 
two terms in the Tennessee Legislature and represented the same 
geographic area of Memphis in which his great grandfather served as a 
squire during the Reconstruction era.
  Congressman Ford has achieved an unparalleled reputation of service 
to his constituents. Ford takes seriously the constitutional Framer's 
intent of making the House of Representatives ``the People's Body.'' He 
holds hundreds of townhall meetings throughout the year and his 
responsiveness to the needs and views of his constituents is legendary. 
Keeping the Government close to the people is Congressman Ford's top 
priority.
  In Washington, Congressman Ford effectively represents his urban 
district through his assignment on the powerful Committee on Ways and 
Means. He is fifth in seniority on the committee and has played pivotal 
roles in the committee's major legislation including health care 
reform, taxation, and welfare reform.
  During the budget debate in the 103d Congress, Congressman Ford 
advanced the empowerment zones and enterprise communities provisions of 
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. He has helped craft this 
landmark legislation, which is the most significant antipoverty 
initiative since the 1960's.
  Congressman Ford is recognized as a national leader and expert on 
child welfare because of his service as chairman and now ranking 
Democrat of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources. In 
1988, Congressman Ford worked with then Gov. Bill Clinton to write the 
most important welfare reform bill to date.
  The election of Bill Clinton to the Presidency and the change in 
power in the Congress, once again placed welfare reform in the 
forefront. Congressman Ford brought years of legislative experience and 
an effective working relationship with the President to the welfare 
debate. Congressman Ford's consistent support of work, education and 
training, and child care programs in welfare reform were further 
bolstered by a recent report by the Bureau of Business and Economic 
Research at the University of Memphis.
  Congressman Ford is active in social and community activities in 
Memphis and throughout the country. He is a member of the National 
Advisory Board of St. Jude Children's Research Hosptial and the 
Metropolitan YMCA Board. He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha 
Fraternity.
  Congressman Ford is the recipient of a bachelor of science degree in 
business administration from Tennessee State University in Nashville, 
and a masters in business administration from Howard University in 
Washington, DC. He also received an honorary doctorate from Meharry 
Medical College in Nashville, TN, and an associate of arts degree in 
mortuary science from John Gupton College in Nashville.
  Congressman Ford was born on May 20, 1945, in Memphis, and is the 8th 
of 15 children of N.J. and Vera Ford. Congressman Ford is married to 
the former Dorothy Boles of Memphis. They are the proud parents of 
three sons: Harold Jr., Jake, and Sir Isaac. He and his family are 
members of the Mt. Moriah East Baptist Church of Memphis.
  It has truly been an honor to serve with Harold. Congratualtions on 
your upcoming retirement from the U.S. Congress and congratulations to 
Harold Ford Jr. who, as many of you know, recently received the 
Democratic nomination to represent the Ninth District of Tennessee in 
the U.S. House of Representatives. We will miss Harold Sr. dearly, but 
I want to wish Harold Jr. the best of luck in this November's election, 
and I look forward to serving with him in the 105th Congress. He has 
some very large shoes to fill
  Mr. BISHOP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the dedication and 
hard work of U.S. Representative Harold Ford. Harold Ford is the first 
and only African-American Tennessean elected to the House of 
Representatives. Prior to his election to Congress, Mr. Ford, served 
two terms in the Tennessee State legislature.
  Representative Ford is noted for his work on behalf of his 
constituency. Partly, as a result of his efforts, Tennessee's Ninth 
District receives more than its fair share of Federal contracts. Mr. 
Ford has also held hundreds of town meetings to ascertain the views of 
his constituents.
  Representative Ford is a proven champion of the poor. In Mr. Ford's 
pivotal role on the Committee on Ways and Means, he advanced the 
empowerment zones and enterprise communities provisions of the Omnibus 
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. The measure created six urban and 
three rural empowerment zones. He has sponsored and cosponsored major 
legislation on healthcare reform, taxation and welfare reform. 
Congressman Ford's work on welfare reform, in particular is widely 
known. During the 103d Congress, Mr. Ford held 20 hearings on President 
Bill Clinton's welfare reform measure. As ranking Democrat, Congressman 
Ford fought Republican efforts to pass a welfare reform bill that would 
weaken provisions that hurt children.
  Mr. Ford has been relentless in his efforts to improve the quality of 
life for Americans. A recent report by the Bureau of Business and 
Economic Research at the University of Memphis stated that the 
Tennessee JOBSWORK program initiated by Representative Ford has been 
successful at moving welfare recipients into the workforce. In 
addition, the bureau reported an average increase in earnings of 163 
percent compared with earnings before participation in the program.
  Mr. Ford is also active in social and community activities in Memphis 
and throughout the country.
  Mr. Speaker, Representative Ford's bold leadership will be missed. I 
wish Mr. Ford success in his future endeavors.
  Mr STOKES. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, the 
distinguished gentleman from Tennessee, Bob Clement, for allowing us 
this time to salute our departing colleague, Harold Ford. For 22 years, 
Harold has served with distinction as a Member of this legislative 
body. We will miss him in the days to come and we are proud to 
recognize him this evening for a job well done.
  Harold Ford was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1974 to represent the 
Ninth District of Tennessee. He came to Congress armed with political 
skill and expertise. Harold began his political career at the age of 25 
when he was elected to the State house of representatives. During his 
tenure, Harold served as majority whip and chaired a committee that 
investigated the rates and practices of utilities in the State.
  In 1974 Harold Ford became the first African-American to represent 
the State of Tennessee in the Halls of Congress. Throughout his tenure, 
Harold has articulated the needs of those who have no voice in the 
political deliberations. He has brought compassion to the debate over 
the reform of our Nation's welfare system. He has advocated the needs 
of those who live in America's public housing. Further, Harold has 
championed efforts to shape programs that provide education, training, 
and job skills for our youth. As a member of the powerful Congressional 
Black Caucus, Harold Ford has also been a strong voice in the struggle 
for justice, civil rights, and equality.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to note that when he was a junior Member of 
Congress, I had the honor of serving with Harold Ford on the House 
Select Committee on Assassinations. I chaired the panel, which was 
charged with conducting a 2-year investigation into the deaths of 
President Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I recall during the 
course of our investigations, traveling with Harold to the Lorraine 
Motel--the scene of Dr. King's assassination--which was located in his 
congressional district. I also recall Harold as a hard-working and 
dedicated member of the panel. The hearings and final report were a 
real credit to this institution and the tireless efforts of members 
such as Harold Ford.
  Mr. Speaker, for many years my wife, Jay, and I have enjoyed a close 
friendship with Harold, his lovely wife, Dorothy, and members of the 
Ford family. As he departs from the Congress, we pause to salute him 
for his significant contributions to the U.S. Congress

[[Page H11364]]

and the Nation. I will miss him as a friend, a colleague, and a true 
champion.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to our 
distinguished colleague, Harold Ford. Harold is retiring at the end of 
this term after a remarkable 22-year career in the House of 
Representatives. Harold has represented the city of Memphis since 1974, 
when he was elected to this body after serving 4 years in the Tennessee 
House. He was the first, and is the only, African-American elected to 
the Congress from Tennessee.
  Harold came to the House as one of the 47 democratic freshman elected 
following the infamous Watergate scandal, and worked diligently to 
bring integrity and honesty back to Washington. He was one of the first 
members of the Congressional Black Caucus, joining at a time when we 
numbered just a handful of members and before we earned the 
considerable influence that we have gained since then.
  While the boundaries of Harold's congressional district cover just 
the city of Memphis, Harold has represented all of America's big cities 
through his effectiveness on the powerful Ways and Means Committee. In 
1993 during the budget debate, Harold advanced the empowerment zone 
proposal through the committee and the Congress, establishing six urban 
and three rural empowerment zones, worth $100 million each in Federal 
assistance. It is the most significant antipoverty initiative since the 
1960's, and will help cities alleviate unemployment, spark economic 
growth, encourage more training and education, and end crime and drug 
abuse. This achievement is particularly significant to me; my hometown 
Detroit was named one of the urban zones December 1994.
  Harold's work on the Ways and Means Committee has also allowed him to 
dedicate his efforts to improving welfare. In fact, Harold was working 
on welfare reform before welfare reform was popular. In 1988, harold 
worked with then-Governor Bill Clinton to write the most important 
welfare reform bill to date, the Family Support Act of 1988. The bill 
was designed to increase opportunities and obligations for work, 
training and education among recipients of Aid to Families with 
Dependent Children [AFDC], and required States to start education, 
training, and work programs for mothers on AFDC. It included provisions 
for medical and child care for mothers moving from welfare to work and 
significantly strengthened child support enforcement laws.
  In 1993, Harold was successful in including the Family Preservation 
Act in the budget bill. This child welfare provision encourages States 
to create family support programs and programs to keep at-risk families 
together. It is the kind of welfare reform that we can be proud of.
  Mr. Speaker, this body will sorely miss Harold Ford's integrity, 
honesty, and diligence. I will miss him here, and in the Congressional 
Black Caucus, where we have spent more than two decades working 
together. I wish Harold the best of luck in his retirement, and know he 
will prosper next year in whatever vocation he may choose.


                             general leave

  Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to submit a statement into the 
Record on the subject that I have talked about tonight, the upcoming 
retirement of Congressman Harold Ford, Sr., from the U.S. House of 
Representatives.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.

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