[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 120 (Monday, September 10, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN HONOR OF MR. JOSEPH MEISSNER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 10, 2012

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor Joseph 
Meissner upon his retirement from the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland 
and upon his new career as a neighborhood lawyer where he will continue 
to serve clients and advocate for justice.
  I have known Joe Meissner for many years and recognize that Joe's 
love of justice has deep roots. In the ``Freedom Summer'' of 1964, 
while a law student at Harvard University School of Law, Joe was co-
chair of the Harvard Civil Rights Committee and marched for civil 
rights in the South.
  After service with the U.S. Army in Vietnam and receiving the Bronze 
Star and other commendation medals, Joe began his career with Legal 
Aid. He continued to serve in the Army Reserves and eventually earned 
the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
  Since 1967, he has been advocating for low-income clients as a lawyer 
for the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. He is well-known for his 
knowledge of public utilities law. He used his wealth of knowledge to 
demand justice and fairness in public utility cases on behalf of those 
in need. Informed by the needs of his clients, Joe fought for a 
``percentage of payment plan'' which keeps gas and electric costs low 
for low-income customers.
  As an attorney, Joe has not only represented private clients, but has 
also been an advocate for neighborhood economic development and 
environmental justice. He was an organizer of the Neighborhood 
Environmental Coalition in Cleveland's Slavic Village neighborhood and 
other nearby downtown neighborhoods. His ability to navigate utility 
and environmental law helped stop the siting of incinerators near 
downtown and helped keep utility emissions in check in the low-income 
and racially diverse neighborhoods of Cleveland's urban core. Years 
after his victories, Joe continued to build on the relationships that 
he developed with the people in those neighborhoods and government 
agencies.
  At this juncture, Joe Meissner begins a new career. He will soon hang 
his shingle and practice law from a storefront on Cleveland's near West 
Side, not far from where he went to high school at St. Ignatius.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in wishing Joseph Meissner 
well in his retirement from 45 years with Legal Aid and in his new 
endeavor to represent the people of Cleveland as a neighborhood public 
interest attorney.

                          ____________________