[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 72 (Wednesday, June 5, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E959-E960]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                MOURNING THE LOSS OF HALA SALAAM MAKSOUD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 2002

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, a memorial service honoring the work and 
achievements of Hala Salaam Maksoud will be held on Wednesday, June 5 
at Georgetown University. Hala Maksoud was a great champion for civil 
rights and human rights. It was truly a sad day on Friday, April 26, 
2002, when she lost her hard-fought battle with cancer.
  Hala Maksoud was a passionate and vital advocate for Arab American 
concerns. As president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination 
Committee (ADC) from 1996-2001, she helped propel the concerns of Arab 
Americans

[[Page E960]]

to the forefront of our national debates. She led ADC in combating 
defamation and negative stereotyping of Arab Americans in the media and 
wherever else it is practiced. Her commitment to defending the rights 
of Arab Americans and promoting Arab-American cultural heritage was not 
only visionary but necessary. I would like to share with my colleagues 
the ADC Press Release mourning the loss of Hala Salaam Maksoud.

                [From ADC Press Release, Apr. 26, 2002.]

                 ADC Mourns Loss of Hala Salaam Maksoud

       It is with a profound sense of loss and sadness that the 
     Board of Directors and the national office staff of the 
     American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) mourn the 
     passing of Dr. Hala Salaam Maksoud, who died today after a 
     long illness. Funeral arrangements will be announced by the 
     family after they are finalized.
       One of the most influential and important leaders in ADC's 
     history, Dr. Maksoud served as ADC President from 1996 to 
     2001. Dr. Maksoud had been actively involved with ADC since 
     its inception in 1980, and was a member of the Executive 
     Committee of the Board of Directors for many years.
       Dr. Maksoud held a Ph.D. in political theory and an M.A. in 
     government from Georgetown University, and an M.A. in 
     mathematics from the American University of Beirut. She 
     taught courses at George Mason University and at Georgetown. 
     In addition to her academic career, Dr. Maksoud was a 
     prominent Arab-American leader and participated in the 
     founding of several organizations, including the American 
     Committee on Jerusalem, the Association of Arab-American 
     University Graduates, and the Arab Women's Council. Dr. 
     Maksoud was a nationally recognized advocate of civil and 
     human rights, and was the recipient of a lifetime achievement 
     award from the American Immigration Law Foundation in March 
     2002.
       Dr. Maksoud is survived by her husband, Dr. Clovis Maksoud, 
     former Ambassador of the League of Arab States to the United 
     States and the United Nations, and current professor of 
     international relations at American University.
       ADC President Ziad Asali said ``this is a devastating loss 
     for the entire Arab-American community, as well as for me 
     personally. Hala was a visionary leader who charted a path to 
     empowerment we will be following for many years to come. Her 
     extraordinary command of politics was matched by exceptional 
     compassion and a genuine commitment to human rights. She had 
     a remarkable ability to communicate effectively with and 
     inspire people of very different cultural and political 
     backgrounds and across lines of religion and social class. 
     Leaders of Hala's caliber are exceedingly rare and we shall 
     miss her guidance and wise counsel. Our task now at ADC is to 
     try to live up to the standard she set for us all.''

     

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