[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 23, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BLACK HISTORY MONTH

  (Mr. CAO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Black History Month 
and to recognize three leaders who have advanced the Nation's 
Historically Black Colleges, bringing opportunity and hope to many 
students, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
  First, Xavier University president, Dr. Norman Francis. Dr. Francis 
is known for his effective leadership and his commitment to community. 
He has led the regeneration of the university and the surrounding 
neighborhood after Hurricane Katrina. Dr. Francis continues to be a 
voice in our recovery and an example of hope.
  Dillard University president, Dr. Marvalene Hughes. In 2005, Dr. 
Hughes took the helm as Hurricane Katrina came ashore and nearly 
destroyed the school. Many would have left, but she took on the 
challenge of rebuilding and recovery, living in a hotel with her 
students for nearly a year. Under her leadership, Dillard's campus and 
the neighborhood have been revived and are thriving, and hope for a 
generation of students has been restored.
  Finally, interim president of the Southern University System, Dr. 
Kassie Freeman. Dr. Freeman is an internationally recognized scholar in 
her own right. At the helm of the Nation's only Historically Black 
University System, she made Southern University's transition out of 
FEMA trailers and into permanent facilities a priority, insisting upon 
those students' continued education.
  It is my honor to recognize these individuals' contributions to our 
Nation's history and to support them in their efforts in Orleans and 
Jefferson Parishes.

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