[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 67 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E787-E788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRATULATING THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 2010

  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Res. 1157, ``Congratulating the National Urban League on its 
100th year of service to the United States.''
  As a member of the House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil 
Rights, and Civil Liberties, I take great pleasure in thanking my 
colleague, Representative Alcee L. Hastings, for introducing this 
important piece of legislation that honors this historic civil rights 
organization.
  Mr. Speaker, today I join my colleagues in recognizing and 
congratulating the National Urban League for its 100 years of service 
to historically underserved urban communities across the United States. 
The National Urban League was originally known as the National League 
of Black Men and Women. Created in 1910 as a civil rights organization, 
the National Urban League has since made tremendous gains in equality 
and empowerment for the African-American community. Throughout the 
League's 100 years of service the organization has assisted millions of 
Americans and especially African-Americans in combating poverty, 
inequality and social injustice.
  The National Urban League saw tremendous growth in its partnership 
with the Federal Government throughout the 1970s. During this time the 
League began delivering aid to urban areas and making improvements in 
housing, education, health and minority-owned small businesses. This 
partnership between the League and the Federal Government 
revolutionized how the country viewed race relations, challenged the 
deep discrimination within America's social structure and established 
the League's reputation as a premier social justice organization.
  Since that time, the League has expanded to include 25 national 
programs, with more than 100 local affiliates in 36 states as well as 
the District of Columbia.
  In my home district in Houston, Texas, the National Urban League has 
played a strong role in helping the community through outreach 
programs. The League has sponsored hundreds of such programs over the 
years from job fairs to Computer Technology courses. These types of 
educational and community empowerment programs help to improve the 
quality of life for communities across the United States.
  The National Urban League in Houston has also played a strong role in 
the clean-up and reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane 
Ike. In September 2008, a massive Category 4 Hurricane named Hurricane 
Ike came ashore and slammed the Texas coastline near my home district 
of Houston. The National Urban League of Houston has since provided 
assistance to children, families and senior citizens in the community. 
I thank the League for its continued support of our community.
  Over the past several years, National Urban League has also helped 
thousands of people weather through one of the worst economic disasters 
in recent memory. Through the League's Housing and Community 
Development division the League was able to assist over 50,000 people 
with mortgage, foreclosure and other similar economic problems in 2009. 
Furthermore, from this assistance provided by the League's 
``Foreclosure Prevention'' program, 3,000 people were able to avoid 
filing foreclosure in 2009.

  The National Urban League also helps out youth across our nation and 
promotes childhood education through programs like the League's 
Education and Youth Development division. Also, programs like the 
League's ``Project Ready'' ensure that students will be prepared for 
the transition from high school to college, or joining the workforce.
  The League has also created and outlined 4 new aspirational goals to 
mark its centennial

[[Page E788]]

anniversary as part of its I AM EMPOWERED campaign. The League has 
pledged to help achieve the following goals by 2025: Ensure that every 
American child is ready for college, work and life; ensure that every 
American has access to jobs with a living wage and good benefits; 
ensure that every American lives in safe, decent, affordable and 
energy-efficient housing on fair terms; and ensure that every American 
has access to quality and affordable health care solutions.
  Altogether the work of the National Urban League has been pivotal in 
improving the lives of millions of Americans through community-oriented 
programs, civil rights, and leadership opportunities. I stand with my 
colleagues today in appreciation for the service the League has 
provided our citizens over the last l00 years and look forward to 
working alongside the League for the next 100 years.
  Since its inception, the National Urban League has been known as an 
historic civil rights organization dedicated to elevating the standard 
of living in historically underserved urban communities. The League 
continues in that legacy today and continuously seeks to empower the 
citizens of urban and inner-city communities.
  I would like to thank and praise the thousands of volunteers, workers 
and community advocates with the National Urban League who have worked 
towards the empowerment of their respective communities and the 
creation of new opportunities.
  I ask my colleagues for their support of H. Res. 1157, as well as for 
their continued support for the National Urban League. Through the 
continuation of the League's programs over the next 100 years, I am 
confident that the United States will continue to be a more fair, just 
and equitable society for all Americans.
  I would like to again thank my colleague Representative Alcee L. 
Hastings for his leadership in introducing this bill as well as for his 
support of the National Urban League.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 
1157.

                          ____________________