[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   A TRIBUTE TO SENATOR PAULA HAWKINS--MAITLAND POST OFFICE RENAMING

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                           HON. JOHN L. MICA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 25, 2010

  Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, as our country pauses to recognize National 
Missing Children's Day, I rise to remember one of our former 
colleagues, Paula Hawkins, who tirelessly championed children and 
children's issues and to pay tribute to this extraordinary woman by 
renaming the Maitland Postal Facility in her honor.
  Former U.S. Senator Paula Hawkins authored and helped secure 
enactment of the Missing Children Act in 1982 which authorized the 
Attorney General to collect and exchange information to identify and 
locate missing persons, especially children. Having served as her Chief 
of Staff when the legislation passed, I can say with certainty there 
would not be Federal missing children's statutes or the National Center 
for Missing & Exploited Children if it was not for Senator Hawkins' 
determination and tireless work.
  On October 13, 1982, President Ronald Reagan signed the Missing 
Children's Act into law, and this year marks the 28th year in national 
recognition of the law's passage. It is appropriate that on this day, 
the entire Florida Congressional Delegation join with me in introducing 
legislation to rename the Maitland Postal Facility at 151 North 
Maitland Avenue in Maitland, Florida to bear the name of Paula Hawkins.
  Senator Hawkins, known as the ``Maitland Housewife'', began as a 
community activist in that city and went on to become the first female 
elected to the U.S. Senate without family connections. Paula Hawkins 
also has the distinction of being the first Florida statewide elected 
female when she won a seat in 1972 on the Public Service Commission. 
With her passing on December 4, 2009, we lost a remarkable public 
servant and trailblazer for women and all Americans in the state and 
national political landscape.
  On behalf of the Hawkins family, a grateful home state of Florida and 
a thankful nation, this Post Office renaming is a humble tribute to our 
former U.S. Senator, Paula Hawkins.

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