[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 169 (Saturday, December 18, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             KENDRICK MEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 17, 2010

  Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Congressional 
Black Caucus, I rise today to honor and celebrate the extraordinary 
career of Congressman Kendrick Meek. A man who took up the torch from 
his mother--our former esteemed colleague, Congresswoman Carrie Meek--
and has carried it further than any of us would have ever imagined. He 
has truly been a trailblazer here in Washington, DC.
  A native of Florida, Congressman Meek received a Bachelor of Science 
degree in Criminal Justice in 1989 from Florida A&M University, where 
he co-founded the school's Young Democrats chapter. After rising to 
become the first African-American chief of police in Florida, 
Congressman Meek was elected to the Florida House of Representatives 
from 1995 to 1998 and to the Florida Senate from 1999 to 2002. While in 
the Florida Senate, Congressman Meek chaired Florida's Coalition to 
Reduce Class Size and helped gain a major victory for students 
throughout the state, with 2.5 million Florida citizens voting to 
approve the initiative.
  During the four terms that Congressman Meek has served Florida's 17th 
Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, he has lit 
a spark among all of us and brought a renewed spirit to the mission of 
not only the Congressional Black Caucus, but to all of Congress. He has 
sponsored legislation creating a Nationwide Mortgage Fraud Task Force, 
expanded trade preferences to Haiti's textile industry, provided tax 
relief to individuals taken advantage of by Ponzi schemes, and expanded 
the number of Medicare-supported physician residency training positions 
in states with a shortage of residents. Congressman Meek has also been 
recognized nationally for his commitment to youth issues and for his 
use of social media as a way of strengthening collaborative 
communication with his constituents and enhancing civic engagement.
  Congressman Meek has served admirably on the House Committee on Ways 
and Means and as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the 
Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. On the international level, 
he has served on the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, an inter-
parliamentary organization of legislators representing NATO members and 
associate countries. He served as Chairman of the Congressional Black 
Caucus Foundation and led it to its prominent national stature.
  Congressman Meek is a dedicated public servant, who has always fought 
fiercely for social and economic justice. He has truly inspired a 
renewed spirit throughout the Congress. On behalf of the Congressional 
Black Caucus, I honor Congressman Meek for his outstanding commitment 
to his district and his country.

                          ____________________