[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 144 (Thursday, September 11, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1774]]
EXPRESSING THE CONDOLENCES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE DEATH 
 OF THE HONORABLE STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE 
                                OF OHIO

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 8, 2008

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our departed colleague 
the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  Many have attested to Stephanie's contagious smile and fierce loyalty 
to her friends. I always respected and admired her. I can honestly say 
that she was a nice and professional colleague. We spoke for the last 
time a couple of weeks ago at the Congressional Black Caucus's Annual 
Retreat in Tunica, Mississippi. I feel a sense of gratitude for our 
meeting. We talked. We embraced. Stephanie expressed her 
congratulations for my success as a freshman legislator. She spoke 
fondly of her time in Memphis as she visited her family there.
  Over the past decade, Stephanie was an undeniable force in Congress. 
She broke barriers in 1998 by being elected the first African American 
woman in Congress from Ohio. She persisted over the years and was 
appointed to the powerful Ways and Means Committee. She served with a 
sense of pride as the chairwoman of the House Ethics Committee.
  Stephanie and I co-sponsored a great deal of legislation together. On 
July 29, 2008, we unified as Members of Congress and passed H. Res. 
194: the formal apology for government's involvement in slavery and Jim 
Crow. Stephanie was one of my earliest co-sponsors. She was a community 
conscious legislator. She fought for the people and sponsored 
legislation on issue areas ranging from community economic development 
to enfranchisement and retirement security.
  I am forever grateful that my last interaction with Stephanie 
concluded with a deep and meaningful hug. My only regret is that 
Stephanie and I will not have the opportunity to work together in the 
future.

                          ____________________