[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 131 (Tuesday, September 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO DR. SUZANNE INSOOK AHN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 2003

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness 
that I pay tribute to the memory of my dear friend and a remarkable 
woman from Dallas, Dr. Suzanne Insook Ahn. I would like to extend my 
greatest sympathy to her family by taking a moment to reflect on Dr. 
Ahn's rich life.
  Dr. Suzanne Insook Ahn was born in Pusan, South Korea and raised in 
the United States, She was a graduate of the University of Texas at 
Austin and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.
  Dr. Ahn trained at Parkland Hospital in Dallas and maintained a 
successful practice as a neurologist for thirteen years. She was the 
youngest person, and only the second woman, to serve on the Texas State 
Medical Board of Examiners in its 100-year history. Dr. Ahn was the co-
inventor of 14 U.S. patents and founded the medical division of a 
start-up technology company.
  A recognized civic leader and advocate of women's rights, she founded 
the Summit, a group of Dallas women in decision-making positions. Dr. 
Ahn was instrumental in organizing the Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter of the 
American Medical Women's Association.
  Dr. Suzanne Ahn was a strong advocate for Asian Americans. She 
lectured across the country on civil rights and lobbied vigorously for 
the rights of Asian American workers at the Wards Cove cannery. Dr. Ahn 
led a march against Dallas nightclubs that illegally banned Asian 
Americans, In 2002 she led picketers at a bookstore in Plano that was 
denying service to Asian Americans. Dr. Ahn was a founder of the Asian 
American Forum that provides leadership training for Asian Americans in 
Dallas/Fort Worth.
  In 1991, Dr. Ahn worked in the Texas Air Control Board to control air 
pollution. As she often pointed out, half of all those with lung cancer 
are non-smokers. Indeed, the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex is plagued by 
severely poor air quality that will continue to kill some of our best 
and brightest--such as Dr. Ahn.
  Mr. Speaker, we must improve air quality in metropolitan areas across 
this Country or we will face disastrous consequences both in terms of 
our health and our economy. In Dr. Ahn's memory, I reaffirm my efforts 
to promote alternative transportation and cleaner power generation so 
that future generations will not grow up in a haze that will shorten 
their lives, happiness, and contributions to our society.
  I join the residents of Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex in extending our 
condolences to her family. A physician, inventor, community leader, and 
civil rights activist, Dr. Ahn was a remarkable woman who will be 
deeply missed and never forgotten. She will be remembered for her 
enthusiasm, her vision, her dedication to equal rights and her many 
contributions to the State of Texas.

                          ____________________