[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 81 (Friday, June 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1270-E1271]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ON THE PASSING OF MS. BRENDA PILLORS, CHIEF OF STAFF TO REP. EDOLPHUS 
                                 TOWNS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 17, 2005

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I wish to send my deepest condolences and 
prayers to the family, friends and colleagues of my good friend Brenda 
Pillors, especially to her partner Mr. Marwan Burgan and my good friend 
and colleague Congressman Ed Towns from New York.
  I first met Brenda at the very beginning of her congressional career 
over 25 years ago when I was a congressional staffer to my predecessor 
Representative Ronald V. Dellums and she was a Congressional Black 
Caucus fellow. Her legacy of service to this institution, the CBC, and 
the 10th Congressional District of New York is one of the most 
memorable careers during a truly historic era. Serving as legislative 
assistant and eventually as legislative director, Brenda was 
instrumental

[[Page E1271]]

when former Representatives Shirley Chisholm and Walter Fauntroy 
traveled to visit Haitian refugees in detention camps. My recollections 
of their great work continue to inspire my activism for rights of 
Haitians.
  As one of the last two Chisholm staff still working on the Hill, 
Brenda played a leadership role, in coordinating the Congressional 
Black Caucus memorial service that Congressman Towns and I organized 
earlier this year. Brenda and I sat next to each other during Shirley 
Chisholm's funeral in Florida, and I will always remember those 
moments, sharing our grief and our memories of Chisholm's legacy. 
Looking back at that time, I never imagined that we would be mourning 
another great woman only six months later.
  Brenda Pillors was solid as a rock. Humble, caring, wise and 
considerate, the knowledge, presence and spirit of Brenda will be 
missed by all. And her respect, her dignity, and her beauty will be 
remembered by many. My thoughts and prayers are with all who knew and 
loved her.

                          ____________________