[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 138 (Tuesday, October 23, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1715-E1716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING JANE RAMSEY ON HER RETIREMENT AS PRESIDENT OF THE JEWISH 
                        COUNCIL ON URBAN AFFAIRS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 23, 2012

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Jane Ramsey on 
her retirement as President of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, 
JCUA, and to celebrate her thirty years of service with the 
organization.
  Under Jane's leadership, JCUA has pursued its mission of combating 
poverty, racism, and anti-Semitism in our communities. Guided by the 
Jewish principles of ``Tzedek'', justice, and ``Tikkun Olam'', 
repairing the world, JCUA fights for social and economic justice and 
empowers communities in many of Chicago's most vulnerable 
neighborhoods.
  JCUA is an active and leading voice in Chicago, fighting for human 
rights and civil rights. From comprehensive immigration reform to 
racism and bigotry, homelessness to government accountability, Jane and 
JCUA have empowered countless impoverished, oppressed, or otherwise 
marginalized communities.
  Jane first came to JCUA in 1979 and, throughout her tenure, has 
fought poverty and hate wherever they occur. From efforts to combat the 
racism targeting mayoral candidate Harold Washington to organizing 
efforts to fight for the rights of Chicago Housing Authority residents 
when high-rise public housing buildings were destroyed, JCUA has been a 
leading voice demanding social and economic justice.
  In the wake of the September 11 attacks, when Chicago's vibrant 
Muslim community faced a wave of hate crime attacks, JCUA launched its 
Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative. The program has built a 
long-term relationship between Jewish and Muslim communities, fighting 
harriers of ignorance and hate and building mutual understanding and 
respect.
  JCUA operates on the principle that affordable housing is a human 
right, working to create viable housing options and community 
development projects in Chicago's low-income communities. The 
organization provides zero-interest seed-funding for affordable housing 
development and preservation projects, capacity-building assistance to 
community groups engaging in economic development projects, and 
advocacy on behalf of affordable housing initiatives.
  In recent years, JCUA has fought for immigration reform. Building on 
Jewish law and experience, JCUA fights the expansion of federal 
immigration detention centers, supports passage of the DREAM Act, and 
advocates for

[[Page E1716]]

fair and just immigration reform to keep families together and create 
pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrations.
  Throughout her distinguished career, Jane has been recognized both 
locally and nationally. In 2009 she was named to the ``Forward 50'' 
list of those ``leading the American Jewish community into the 21st 
century''. She is a current board member of CAN-TV, Leadership Greater 
Chicago Fellows Association, Illinois Coalition for Immigrants and 
Refugee Rights, and the Shalom Center. In the past, she has also served 
her community by working with the Justice Coalition of Greater Chicago, 
Chicago Coalition to Protect Public Housing, Ethics Coalition, KAM 
Isaiah Israel Congregation, Women in Charge; and as a commissioner for 
Private Industry Council, PIC, the Women's Commission of the City of 
Chicago, and the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism.
  For thirty years, Jane's work has changed the lives of countless 
individuals, families, and communities throughout Chicago. Her work has 
empowered Jews of all ages, brought together individuals of different 
faiths, and given a voice to those who would otherwise have gone 
unheard. I have been privileged to work with Jane over the years on 
several issues and projects and feel fortunate to call her a treasured 
friend. I join others in the Chicago area in offering my deep gratitude 
for her decades of work and lifelong commitment to social justice, 
empowerment, and human rights and in wishing her well.

                          ____________________