[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 40 (Friday, April 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO COMMISSIONER DR. BARBARA CAREY-SHULER: A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 8, 2005

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of the 
most dedicated public servants I have had the pleasure of working with, 
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Dr. Barbara Carey-Shuler.
  Dr. Carey-Shuler has served in many capacities--as a teacher, 
counselor, administrator, university professor, assistant 
superintendent for Dade County Public Schools, and most importantly, 
``a leader of community leaders.'' In October 2002, Dr. Carey-Shuler 
made history when she was selected by her peers as the first African-
American woman to serve as Chairperson of Miami-Dade County Board of 
Commissioners--a position in which she served with distinction.
  Throughout her elected service, which dates back to her appointment 
to the County Commission in 1979, Dr. Carey-Shuler has truly been a 
groundbreaking elected official. She introduced and led the effort to 
pass the set-aside law and affirmative action policy in Miami-Dade 
County, the latter of which was argued all the way to the Supreme 
Court. Both policies were enormously successful in producing more jobs 
and more business opportunities for minorities and women.
  Among her many triumphs, Commissioner Carey-Shuler created the infill 
housing ordinance to provide clean-title lots to non-profits for the 
construction of low-income housing; initiated the ``No More Stray 
Bullets'' campaign to educate New Year's Eve revelers of the dangers of 
shooting weapons as part of the celebration; and established the Youth 
Crime Task Force which provides funding for new prevention and 
intervention programs to benefit at-risk youth.
  During her 30-year career of service to this community, Dr. Barbara 
Carey-Shuler has been recognized for her outstanding service. She has 
received major appointments to boards, committees and task forces by 
U.S. presidents and state governors. She has also received hundreds of 
honors and recognition for her service and contributions.
  Most recently she has been honored by the International Committee of 
Artists for Peace, a coalition supporting the United Nations 
International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the 
Children of the World, and by the Dean of the Martin Luther King, Jr. 
International Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta for her work in 
promoting peace and non-violence. Her district includes much of the 
City of Miami, including the communities of Liberty City, Little Haiti, 
Overtown, the Upper East Side, Allapattah and Wynwood, as well as Miami 
Shores.
  Dr. Carey-Shuler has made and continues to make significant 
contributions to the growth and dynamism of South Florida, and I take 
great pride in acknowledging and thanking her for all that she has 
meant to our community.