[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 91 (Tuesday, July 9, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H4397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE CARRIE MEEK, MEMBER OF CONGRESS

  (Ms. WATSON of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. WATSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I had not intended to give my 
tribute this afternoon, but we cannot be in these Chambers or in 
hearing distance and not be compelled to come up and add to this 
tribute. We are going to say more later.
  I have known the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek) for almost 30 
years now. I remember her as a legislator who rushed up to me one day 
and said, What is the name of that bill, that bill? What is the number 
of that bill that you had? We want to do it in Florida. She was always 
probing, always seeking to make good public law.
  We served together in Noble Women many years ago. I just went up to 
her and I said, I want to take credit for getting you here in 1992. 
After that very devastating earthquake she called my office. We had had 
a big uprising in Los Angeles. She said, What can I do? I have two 
young men running against me. I said, Turn your headquarters into an 
emergency relief center. She did that. She gave out beds and blankets 
and food, and she ended up in the place where she needed to be; that 
was in the House of Representatives.
  She has served with distinction, but most of all, she has served with 
heart, directly under God, and shared that with all of us. For that, we 
will be eternally grateful to you, Carrie. We love you.

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