[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO ELI SEGAL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 28, 2006

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary 
American, Eli Segal, who passed away on February 20, 2006 at the age of 
63.
  Eli Segal was born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1943. He graduated from 
Brandeis University in 1964 and received a law degree from the 
University of Michigan in 1967.
  Mr. Segal began his political involvement in 1968 when he joined 
Senator Eugene McCarthy's presidential campaign. Even though Senator 
McCarthy lost, Mr. Segal was not deterred. He went on to serve in key 
positions on several Democratic presidential campaigns, culminating 
with the 1992 campaign of President Clinton, which was Eli Segal's 
first presidential campaign victory.
  Mr. Segal served as Assistant to the President in the Clinton White 
House, and within months established the Corporation for National 
Service, now known as AmeriCorps. Because of his superb skills and 
management, the once controversial program became an acclaimed success. 
Four hundred thousand young Americans enrolled in the program and 
helped to improve their communities and their country. Mr. Segal also 
took an active interest in City Year, another service program he 
eventually chaired. At the request of Nelson Mandela, he helped launch 
City Year in South Africa.
  When President Clinton signed welfare reforms into law in 1996, Mr. 
Segal took on the challenge of creating opportunities for former 
welfare recipients who were now required to work. He began asking 
American companies to make commitments to hire former welfare 
recipients, and his ``welfare-to-work partnership'' grew from five 
companies to 20,000. As he did with AmeriCorps, Mr. Segal left a great 
legacy with the success of welfare reform.
  Mr. Segal is survived by his wife Phyllis, his son Jonathan, his 
daughter Mora, two grandchildren, and his brother Alan.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring an 
outstanding American and an extraordinary public servant. We extend our 
deepest sympathy to Eli Segal's family and we pay tribute to a life 
filled with values and contributions to the country he loved and served 
so well. He made our Nation stronger and I consider myself blessed to 
have known him and worked with him.

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