[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 28, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H1650-H1651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMEMBERING ANTHONY DEJUAN BOATWRIGHT
(Mr. BARROW asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. BARROW. Mr. Speaker, it's with sadness that I rise to honor the
life of Anthony Dejuan Boatwright, who
[[Page H1651]]
passed away at the age of 11 Sunday night. Juan was 14 months old when
he was left alone at his day care center, fell into a bucket of water
and bleach, and suffered irreversible brain damage. At that time, there
was no law requiring Georgia licensed day care centers to carry
insurance or even let parents know that they didn't carry insurance.
That meant that despite being awarded a $30 million jury verdict,
Juan's family couldn't collect the money needed to care for Juan's life
over the past 11 years.
Juan's mother, Jackie, has led a courageous effort to correct this
injustice. And in 2004, Georgia enacted a law requiring that day care
centers disclose their insurance status. Last Congress, Juan and
Jackie's fight led the House to pass the Anthony Dejuan Boatwright Act
so that families across America would never again experience the same
tragedy.
During the last 11 years, Juan inspired a movement to protect the
safety of children everywhere. Juan, your mother and I thank you for
your life. You will be missed, but your legacy lives on.
____________________