[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 27, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E57-E58]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           THE FLORIDA CONFERENCE OF BLACK STATE LEGISLATORS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 27, 2004

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a versatile and 
committed group of elected officials in Miami-Dade County who are 
members of the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators (FCBSL). 
On Thursday, January 29, 2004, they will be spearheading the 2004 Miami 
Regional Issues Conference, beginning with a town hall meeting on the 
``High Stakes of the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (FCAT)'' to 
be held at Miami Edison Middle School.
  Joining them are parents and community leaders, school administrators 
and teachers, as well as elected and appointed officials from Miami-
Dade County and the State of Florida. This conference comes at an 
opportune time when there is a need to foster greater knowledge and 
involvement regarding government and politics among residents of our 
various neighborhoods.
  In its most vivid history, the Florida Conference of Black State 
Legislators was incorporated in 1982 upon the election of nine 
prominent African Americans to the Florida House of Representatives. 
Indeed, the life of each of these legislators, and those that have 
followed, has become legendary and about as close to the impossible 
dream as I have witnessed.
  These preeminent leaders will spearhead this 2-day conference, which 
will cover crucial issues such as Affordable Access to Health Care, 
Juvenile and Criminal Justice, Telecommunications, Hip Hop and 
Politics, Front Porch Florida, and Florida's Pari Mutuels. The Florida 
Caucus leads a critical gathering of concerned citizens, as well as the 
virtues of responsible and competent public servants who aspire to 
expound their unwavering positions on equal educational opportunities 
for minorities, the controversial incongruence of the Florida 
Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), along with their unconditional 
passion for justice, equal rights, and educational opportunity for all.
  In a special manner, ever since I have known the members of the Miami 
Black Caucus delegation, these leaders have always been at the 
forefront of ensuring equal participation in the shared duties and 
responsibilities on the part of Miami-Dade County's citizenry.

[[Page E58]]

 At the same time, their forceful advocacy for adhering to the tenets 
of equal treatment under the law not only in the halls of academia, but 
also in every segment of our State government agencies has become 
legendary. In fact, countless others have been touched by their genuine 
commitment to public service, especially to minorities who could least 
fend for themselves.
  The legislators forming the Miami Regional Issues Conference 
Committee truly exemplify a unique and responsive leadership whose 
courageous vision and wisdom appeal to the critical issues impacting 
our community and the entire State of Florida.
  I would like to extend my personal invitation to all those interested 
in our State government to enable them to seize the opportunity to 
renew and enhance their commitment to our common well-being as we 
prepare to meet the many challenges of our times. I honor these 
distinguished colleagues and fellow public servants of mine.

                          ____________________