[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 111 (Friday, August 7, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H7427-H7428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC ISSUES AND A PERSONAL TRIBUTE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, before I begin my tribute this 
morning, I did want to acknowledge the tragedy in Africa that occurred 
just this morning and last night where a tragic bombing occurred in 
Kenya and Tanzania. The reports have it that thousands were injured, 
many were killed, and amongst those were public servants of the United 
States, members of the State Department who may have lost their life.
  I would like at this time to offer my deepest sympathy to both the 
Americans and Africans who have lost their life for this random 
terroristic act, and to acknowledge that no one is immune from 
terrorism. But it is important that this Nation remains open to the 
world promoting democracy and claiming freedom.
  I would hope that we would recognize that the African people do not 
hold to this mass destruction and that where there are a few that would 
try to destroy the relationship between the African people and this 
Nation, let me be one to say that it will not be destroyed.
  Mr. Speaker, my prayers go out to the family members. Our flags now 
fly at half-mast, and I join the President of the United States 
recognizing that our fight is just beginning to ensure freedom and 
democracy on the continent of Africa, to join hands with the likes of 
Nelson Mandela and other leaders of democratic Nations to fight against 
terroristic acts and to find and prosecute all those who would commit 
such terrible and heinous acts.


                            Welfare to Work

  Mr. Speaker, I also congratulate those who joined the President this 
morning to acknowledge the signing of a wonderful new direction for 
welfare to work training where now we give the opportunity for those 
who were on welfare, who have lost their jobs, to get the resources to 
choose their own destiny, to be able to select the kind of training 
they would like, to find out the kind of training institution they 
would like to go to. To have counselors and career advisors who would 
direct them into a new career.
  Now it is in the hands of the American people. We will not give 
agencies money and they tell Americans what to do. This new job 
training bill, the ``Workforce Investment Act of 1998,'' will give the 
money directly to those in need and they will go back into the 
community and determine whether they want to get an undergraduate 
degree or go to a community college or want labor training or 
apprenticeship training. All of this is now provided with new 
leadership and job training and the new emphasis of moving people from 
welfare to work.


                        Tribute to Carl S. Smith

  Mr. Speaker, I now want to speak about a good friend of mine, and 
this is a tribute to Carl S. Smith, the Harris County tax assessor who 
lost his life and, of course, we lost him.
  But Carl gave us 50 years of service and so I wish to say this 
afternoon, ``Farewell my friend.'' For those who hope in the Lord will 
renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will 
run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.
  Carl Smith was that kind of servant. Henry David Thoreau once said, 
``The death of friends will inspire us as much as their lives * * * 
Their memories will be encrusted over with the sublime and pleasing 
thoughts, as monuments of other men are overgrown with moss; for our 
friends have no place in the graveyard.''
  That is the testimony of Carl Smith's life. He served the State of 
Texas for some 50 years. He was an individual that was willing to take 
a chance when no others would. That is why Reverend McAdow indicated 
that in the early '50s Carl promoted the first black deputy clerk and 
he also helped in our segregated community of Houston, Texas, with 
bringing about race relations and interrelations.
  Carl was not afraid of opposition. He was tall and stately and he 
recognized that his responsibility as a public servant, one which I 
greatly admire, was to serve the public. Nothing else.
  Reverend Thompson who delivered his eulogy at the Bethany Christian 
Church said this about my friend Carl Smith: He was smart, insightful, 
unpredictable and, yes, he was a darned good Democrat. Dynamic, he was 
colorful, caring about all he served. And I personally know how Carl 
Smith walked the hallways of the tax assessor's office dignified as he 
was, but he would stop on those long lines for those getting their 
license plates or trying to pay the taxes on their property and he 
would individually share with them their concerns or questions.

[[Page H7428]]

  Mr. Speaker, he was a bold and straightforward, astute man of 
integrity. As I close, principled, humble, faithful, confident, 
helpful, a consummate public servant. But most of all, Mr. Speaker, 
Carl Smith was a child of God.
  Mr. Speaker, I say to our departed public servant, ``Farewell my 
friend. We thank you for 50 years of service to Harris County, Texas, 
and the Nation.''

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