[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 98 (Friday, June 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1575]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN RECOGNITION OF THE 2009 VIRGINIA HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 25, 2009

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the recipients of the 2009 Virginia Human Rights Awards. These awards 
were presented during a recent ceremony hosted jointly with the Prince 
William County Human Rights Commission.
  Prince William County has long been an area of growth in our Northern 
Virginia region. As the county population grew in the early 1990s and 
the demographics shifted, the Board of County Supervisors recognized 
the need for a study to examine the county's ability to respond to 
increasing population diversity. The result of the study was the 
creation of a Human Rights Ordinance prohibiting discriminatory 
practices based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, marital 
status or disability in employment, housing, public accommodations, 
education and credit in Prince William County. When the Board of County 
Supervisors established the Human Rights Ordinance in September of 
1992, it created the Human Rights Commission to ensure that ``each 
citizen is treated fairly, provided equal protection of the law and 
equal opportunity to participate in the benefits, rights, and 
privileges of community life.''
  The recipients of this year's awards have exhibited a devotion to 
``[eliminating] discrimination through civil and human rights law 
enforcement and [establishing] equal opportunity for all persons within 
the county through advocacy and education.''
  The recipients of the Prince William Human Rights Awards are Betty 
Covington from Prince William Public Schools and Dexter Fox with Unity 
in the Community.
  The Virginia Human Rights Commissioner of the Year is Victor Dunbar, 
Chairman of the Fairfax County Human Rights Commission.
  The Staff Member of the Year is Annie Carroll, Deputy Director of the 
Fairfax County Human Rights Commission.
  The Virginia Human Rights Commemorative Award for contributions to 
human rights through the signing of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights 
Acts will be made posthumously to President Lyndon B. Johnson.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in applauding the 
efforts of these individuals on behalf of harmony and equality in our 
communities. We are a happier, safer society when we promote fairness 
and justice. I would like to extend my unconditional support for the 
Human Rights Commission's mission and my deepest appreciation to those 
who take up the cause of human and civil rights.

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