[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 58 (Tuesday, May 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E793]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING CALIFORNIA STATE SENATOR LONI HANCOCK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 3, 2011

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary career 
of California State Senator Loni Hancock as we celebrate 40 years of 
her dedicated public service. Having served on local, state and federal 
levels of government throughout her career, she made history as the 
first woman elected to be Mayor of the City of Berkeley. Senator 
Hancock continues to be a celebrated, invaluable member of the 
California State Legislature, and we join together in praise of her 
remarkable contributions to the Bay Area, California, and beyond.
  Raised on the East Coast, Loni Hancock received her B.A. from Ithaca 
College in 1963. After moving to Berkeley with her family upon 
graduation, she earned an M.A. in Social Psychology from the Wright 
Institute in 1978. Her four decades of advocacy for social justice, 
environmental protection, economic development and access to high-
quality, affordable education and health care began with her 
involvement in the historical political movements of the 1960s and 
1970s.
  Like many involved in Berkeley's hotbed of political activism, Ms. 
Hancock's opposition to the war in Vietnam and her work championing 
racial justice and women's equality led her to community organizing. 
She was active in the Community for New Politics (which later became 
the Berkeley Coalition), Women for Peace, and Bay Area Women Against 
Rape.
  In 1971, Loni Hancock began eight years of service as an elected 
member of Berkeley City Council. In that role, she had the opportunity 
to shape programs and policies that reflected the nation's burgeoning 
civic reforms, including affirmative action hiring of women and people 
of color, job and benefits restructuring for city workers, and the 
administration of parental leave, rent control, recycling programs and 
campaign finance reform. As a council member, she also successfully 
pushed to preserve the Berkeley marina and its surrounding wildlife 
from development.
  From 1986 to 1994, she served two terms as the first elected woman 
Mayor of Berkeley, resulting in the city's urban renaissance and the 
revitalization of its downtown. During a tough economic climate, she 
balanced seven consecutive city budgets, forged innovative city 
partnerships with the school district and led efforts to secure 
additional open space (including Ohlone Park and the East Shore State 
Park).
  From there, she served President Clinton's administration as head of 
the Western Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Education, where 
she helped direct millions in federal funding to launch after-school, 
early reading preparation, college preparedness and career-to-school 
programs in California schools. She also oversaw a host of domestic 
volunteer programs as President Jimmy Carter's Regional Director for 
ACTION (the precursor of the Corporation for National Service).
  In 2002, Loni Hancock began three terms representing the 14th 
District in the California State Assembly. She was elected to the 
California State Senate in 2008, and currently represents the 9th State 
Senate District. As a State Legislator, Loni Hancock has authored 
landmark legislation and provided leadership on important issues. Her 
work has led to policies that improve and preserve our public schools, 
invest in programs to prevent crime and reduce recidivism, provide 
multi-faceted protection of our environment and encourage increased 
efficiency and fair elections in state government
  On behalf of California's 9th Congressional District, State Senator 
Loni Hancock, I salute you. Your 40 years of public service have made 
an indelible mark in our community. Thank you for your continued work, 
and best wishes to you and your loved ones in the years to come.

                          ____________________