[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 128 (Friday, October 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING THE LATE OSCAR MAUZY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 12, 2000

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute 
to former Texas State Senator and Supreme Court Justice Oscar Mauzy. He 
passed away on Tuesday, October 10, at the age of 73.
  Justice Mauzy was my immediate predecessor in the Texas Senate from 
Senate District 23. He represented this District from 1967 until his 
election to the State Supreme Court in 1986. During his service in the 
legislature, Senator Mauzy served as the chairman of the Senate 
Education Committee, where he led efforts to improve education and to 
secure greater funding for education in poorer school districts. A 
labor lawyer by training, Senator Mauzy was also active in the areas of 
judicial reform, consumer protection, and workers' compensation. Later 
in his legislative career, Senator Mauzy served as Chairman of the 
Jurisprudence Committee, where he authored legislation to make jury 
selection uniform throughout the state and finally allow women to serve 
as jurors.
  Justice Mauzy's dedication to education for our children continued 
during his six-year term in the Texas Supreme Court. He was the driving 
force behind a 9-0 decision that declared the state's school funding 
system inequitable. That decision led to enactment of a law to require 
wealthier school districts to share funds with lower-income districts.
  I am deeply saddened that Texas has lost a public servant who 
dedicated more than a quarter century in service to his fellow Texans. 
I ask the House to join me in remembrance of Justice Mauzy, a true 
champion for working men and women and schoolchildren in my state.

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