[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 11 (Tuesday, February 3, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E92-E93]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING ALICE A. HUFFMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 2004

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great leader, a woman 
of distinction, and a good friend, Alice Huffman. This month marks 
Alice's 30th year of leadership in her efforts for equality and 
justice. The ninth Congressional District salutes and thanks Alice for 
her tireless and spirited service.
  Alice Huffman was elected president of the California State 
Conference of the NAACP in October 1999, where she is the first woman 
to hold this post. In this role, Alice leads 67 local branches, and 
more than 30 college chapters and youth units. With her leadership, 
they are continuing to fight for civil rights and equality for people 
of color all over California. In 2002, she was elected to the NAACP 
National Board of Directors, representing Region I.
  Her past experience includes serving as an appointee in Governor 
Jerry Brown's administration where she was Chief Deputy Director of the 
State Parks and Recreation Department and, later his Director of the 
Office of Economic Opportunity, a cabinet level position. Ms. Huffman 
has also served as the Associate Executive Director for politics for 
the California Teachers Association and State President of the Black 
American Political Association of California.
  Alice is founder and president/CEO of A.C. Public Affairs, Inc., a 
public affairs firm that specializes in public and grass roots 
advocacy. She served on the Democratic National Committee as the 
cochair for the Site-Selection Committee for the 2004 Democratic 
Convention. She is also a member of the Rules Committee for the 
California Democratic Party. Currently, Ms. Huffman serves on the board 
for Capitol Focus, as well as serving on T-CAP, which is a consumer 
advisory panel to SBC/Pacific Bell. In addition, she serves on the 
``Commission for One California,'' a forum for diversity and 
understanding headed by Lieutenant Governor Bustamante. She has 
recently been appointed to Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson's Commission on 
Police Conduct.
  Ms. Huffman graduated from the University of California, Berkeley 
with honors in Social/Cultural Anthropology. She then advanced her 
studies at the University of Pennsylvania, University of California, 
Davis, and University of

[[Page E93]]

Southern California. Her long-standing tenet is that learning is a 
life-long process.
  Alice was inducted into the Los Angeles African American Women 
Political Action Committee's Political Hall of Fame in April 2002 for 
her outstanding achievements as a social activist in the minority 
community. Ms. Huffman is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Kappa 
Alpha, and also the Sacramento Branch NAACP. The Los Angeles Times 
called her one of the most powerful people in California. The 
California Journal listed her as one of the top 50 individuals who had 
the greatest impact on California over the past 25 years and her local 
African American newspaper, The Sacramento Observer, annually includes 
her in its 100 most influential citizens.
  Finally, as we honor Ms. Huffman today, I want to thank her for being 
an exemplary role model, hero, and friend. I take great pride in 
joining Alice's family, friends, and colleagues to recognize and 
celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of the marvelous Alice 
Huffman.

                          ____________________