[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 143 (Friday, September 23, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING CONGRESSWOMAN CARRIE MEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TIM RYAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 23, 2011

  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to recognize 
Congresswoman Carrie Meek and her lifelong devotion to public service.
  For over a decade, Congresswoman Meek served in the Florida State 
House of Representatives and Senate. In 1993, Congresswoman Meek became 
the first African American since Reconstruction to be elected to the 
United States House of Representatives from the state of Florida.
  Congresswoman Meek fought against cuts to social welfare programs 
throughout the 1990s. Instead, she worked to expand federal programs 
that could create jobs and make it easier for minorities to open and 
own their own businesses.
  During her career, she worked tirelessly to stand up for the 
underprivileged; making sure that the elderly were able to live 
comfortably, that minorities were accurately counted in the Census, and 
that disaster stricken areas had adequate funding.
  I am honored to join my distinguished colleagues to pay tribute to 
the great work and achievements of Congresswoman Meek. She is, and 
always will be a shining example of how we, as Members of Congress, 
should conduct ourselves in public office.

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