[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 14, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     A TRIBUTE TO FRANKIE MUSE FREEMAN A CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY AND 
                 COMMISSIONER FOR AMERICA'S PRESIDENTS

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                           HON. WM. LACY CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 14, 2005

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Frankie Muse 
Freeman, a lawyer from Missouri who has fought a long and historic 
battle in defense of civil and human rights for all Americans. Her 
dedication and service to our nation as a civil rights attorney and 
Commissioner of Civil Rights for a long line of American Presidents, 
aptly earns her a place in the Missouri Walk of Fame and the privilege 
of being honored today before Congress.
  Dr. Freeman has been engaged in the practice of law since June 1949. 
In addition to being an outstanding attorney, she has held four 
presidential appointments. President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated her as 
the first woman to serve as a Commissioner of the U.S. Commission on 
Civil Rights. Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter subsequently 
reappointed her. She served as a Commissioner for 16 years, and later 
as Inspector General for the Community Services Administration during 
the Carter Administration. President Carter, in thanking her for her 
service to the Civil Rights Commission, stated that ``You have insisted 
that this nation must follow policies and reflect an unequivocal 
commitment to the goal of equal opportunity for all, in all walks of 
life. . . You are one of our Nation's truly great leaders in the field 
of civil rights.''
  Committed to justice, Dr. Freeman joined 15 Federal officials in 
forming a bipartisan Citizens Commission on Civil Rights to monitor the 
Federal Government's enforcement of laws barring discrimination. She 
has extensive experience in the areas of housing, civil and probate 
law, and in civil rights. She has represented individuals, major 
corporations, not-for-profit organizations, and state and municipal 
agencies. A landmark in her career occurred in 1954 when she argued and 
won the case challenging racial segregation in public housing in St. 
Louis.
  She strives to empower others to always be prepared and be active 
participants in today's society. Leading by example, Dr. Freeman has 
devoted many hours to the Howard University Board of Trustees, National 
Council on Aging, National Council of Negro Women, Girl Scouts of the 
United States of America, Board of Directors of the Urban League of 
Metropolitan St. Louis, Board of the United Way of Greater Saint Louis, 
Board of the Greater St. Louis Chapter of the United Nations 
Association and the Trustee Board of Washington Tabernacle Baptist 
Church. She is also a past president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, 
Inc.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Freeman is among my heroes and I am proud to salute 
her for her many lasting contributions to both our local St. Louis 
community and to our nation. Her outstanding leadership and sincere 
commitment to justice makes her more than worthy of receiving our 
recognition and I urge my colleagues to join me in commending Dr. 
Frankie Freeman.

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