[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 153 (Monday, November 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1999]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING GEORGE THOMAS ``MICKEY'' LELAND

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 29, 2010

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay 
tribute to Congressman George Thomas ``Mickey'' Leland, who lost his 
life in a plane crash during a humanitarian mission in Ethiopia. Were 
he still with us, he would have turned 66 last week on November 27.
  Congressman Leland was best known for his advocacy for low-income 
families and individuals, both at home and abroad. Before he even held 
political office, he was active in pressing for crucial health care 
reforms in Houston, such as community health clinics. In 1972 he ran 
for the Texas House of Representatives as a member of the ``People's 
Five,'' a slate of minority candidates in a state that had not seen an 
African American state representative since Reconstruction. Congressman 
Leland won his election, and two subsequent reelections. In his tenure, 
he was lauded for his work to allow generic drugs to be prescribed, 
lowering costs and increasing access to life-saving medications for 
many Texans.
  In 1978, Congressman Leland took over the seat vacated by Barbara 
Jordan's retirement from the United States House of Representatives. He 
was reelected to his position as a United States Congressman five 
times, typically winning majorities of 90 percent or more. Initially he 
drew attention with his unique sense of style, later for his ability to 
develop bipartisan partnerships. Congressman Leland chaired the 
Congressional Black Caucus in the 99th Congress, from 1985 to 1987. He 
was an ally to all minority groups, including the many Latinos in his 
district. He once surprised his colleagues by arguing in Spanish on the 
House Floor in favor of preserving the bilingual clauses of the Voting 
Rights Act.
  However, Congressman Leland's greatest passion--the fight against 
world hunger--was born during a three-month trip through East Africa. 
There, he witnessed mobs of people rubbing their stomachs and pleading 
for food in Ethiopian refugee camps. There, he held a young girl in his 
arms as she died of starvation. After that fateful visit, Congressman 
Leland became a dedicated crusader, raising awareness of domestic and 
international hunger. He was instrumental in the creation of the Select 
Committee on Hunger, which in 1984 was able to push through Congress a 
nearly $800 million aid package for famine relief. He continued to 
travel to Africa frequently, often guiding his Congressional colleagues 
to refugee camps so they could see for themselves the dramatic impact 
of the aid money.
  It was during a trip to Africa, during which he planned to monitor 
the delivery of supplies and inspect a refugee camp on August 7, 1989, 
that Congressman Leland's plane crashed into a mountainside. He and 15 
others died in the course of this humanitarian mission. Many of the 
communities he had touched, both in Texas and nationally, were quick to 
honor his memory with awards, dedications, and outreach projects in 
Africa. His greatest legacy is, of course, his family--he is survived 
by his wife Alison and his three children.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing this 
remarkable man for his lifetime of service.

                          ____________________