[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 44 (Friday, April 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E565]
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

                        Thursday, April 6, 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, New York, in 1943. He graduated 
Brandeis University in 1964 and received a law degree from the 
University of Michigan in 1967.
  Mr. Segal began a distinguished political career in 1968 when he 
joined Senator Eugene McCarthy's presidential campaign. Though Senator 
McCarthy lost, Mr. Segal was not deterred and served in key positions 
in several Democratic presidential campaigns, culminating with 
President Clinton's 1992 campaign, which was Mr. Segal's first campaign 
victory.
  Mr. Segal then served as Assistant to the President in the Clinton 
White House, and within months established the Corporation for National 
Service, better known now as AmeriCorps. Thanks to his skilled 
management, the once controversial program has become an acclaimed 
success, and 400,000 young Americans have been 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.
  In 1996, when President Clinton signed welfare reform into law, Mr. 
Segal took on the challenge of creating opportunities for former 
welfare recipients who were 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 twenty 
thousand. As he did with AmeriCorps, Mr. Segal left a great legacy in 
his contribution to the success of welfare reform.
  Mr. Segal is survived by his wife Phyllis, his son Jonathan and 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, and extending 
our deepest sympathy to his family. He touched the lives of many 
Americans and changed our nation for the better.

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