[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 12, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE WORK OF MERVYN DYMALLY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAREN BASS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 12, 2012

  Ms. BASS of California. Mr. Speaker, today I'm honored to stand and 
recognize the extraordinary life of my dear friend Mr. Mervyn Dymally 
for his decades of public service to the great people of California. 
Mr. Dymally's life is a testament to the belief within our great 
country that no matter who you are or where you come from, America with 
its boundless opportunities remains a place where we can all thrive 
together.
  Mr. Dymally immigrated to the United States from his native Trinidad 
at the age of 19 years old. Through hard work he went on to graduate 
from California State University before later earning master's and 
doctoral degrees. He dedicated his life to public service early--
working as a special education teacher in Los Angeles and organizing 
the most marginalized citizens of our state so that they could use 
their voices to build a politics that best reflected their values and 
aspirations.
  Mr. Dymally became California's first foreign-born black state 
assemblyman when he was elected in 1962, its first black state senator 
four years later and, in 1974, its first black lieutenant governor. In 
1980 he became one of the first foreign-born blacks elected to the 
House of Representatives, where he served six terms and led the 
Congressional Black Caucus for a time.
  Throughout his decades long career, Mr. Dymally made standing up for 
human rights and the working poor the hallmarks of his service to 
California and the nation. He worked to improve health care for the 
poor and sponsored legislation to expand civil rights protections for 
women. As lieutenant governor he joined Cesar Chavez in trying to 
protect jobs for farm workers.
  Mr. Dymally was a mentor to several African American leaders who 
followed him into public service, so much so that he was dubbed the 
``Godfather of African-American politics.'' He broke down barriers and 
through it all remained humble and dedicated to the causes that brought 
him into public service in the first place.
  Mr. Dymally's life is an inspiration to us all who serve in this 
House and today we honor his service.

                          ____________________