[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 26, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE LEGACY OF CARDISS COLLINS, PAST CBC CHAIR

  (Ms. LEE of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month we lost a true 
champion for women, for communities of color, for the entire country.
  Elected in 1973, Congresswoman Cardiss Collins soon became a forceful 
political voice in the House, rising quickly to become chair of the 
Congressional Black Caucus in 1979. I came to know and to love Cardiss 
Collins while working as a staffer to Congressman Ron Dellums.
  She opened so many doors for African American women elected to 
Congress now, serving for a time as one of the only African American 
women. From 1985 to 1991, she was the only Black woman here in the 
House of Representatives. She broke so many glass ceilings, oftentimes 
fighting many, many lonely battles with grace and distinction, knowing 
her power and her strength.
  She was a leader in the fight for low-income women's access to 
reproductive health services. And she fought tirelessly to ensure that 
women and minorities were treated equally to their counterparts, 
especially in college athletics, in the insurance industry, government 
hiring, and at the Smithsonian.
  On behalf of Ron Dellums and his staff, we send our condolences and 
our prayers.

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