[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 117 (Monday, September 9, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1263-E1264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 STATEMENT ON 30 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE OF COUNCILMAN ALBERT VANN

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. HAKEEM S. JEFFRIES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 9, 2013

  Mr. JEFFRIES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 
achievements of Councilman Albert Vann. During his years of service, 
Councilman Vann has helped thousands and worked tirelessly to improve 
the lives of all those he encountered. In celebration of his 30 years 
of outstanding service, Councilman Vann was honored on May 9, 2013, at 
Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, NY, where the library was 
renamed in his honor.
  As both a teacher and elected official, Councilman Vann has served 
the people of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, the community in which he 
was born and raised. Councilman Vann graduated from Franklin K. Lane 
High School and went on to earn his B.B.A. from Toledo University, his 
Master's Degree in Education from Yeshiva University, and his Master's 
Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Long Island University. He 
served as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. Prior to being 
elected to public office, Councilman Vann taught at PS 256, JHS 35, and 
JHS 271 in Brooklyn, NY.
  Councilman Vann served in the New York State Assembly from 1974-2001. 
Throughout these years, he continually and fervently represented the 
needs of his constituents. As Chairman of the New York State Black & 
Puerto Rican Caucus, he worked to prevent racial gerrymandering of the 
New York City Council. In 1982 he filed a lawsuit that increased the 
representation of communities of color--this landmark victory led to 
the creation of two additional Congressional Districts, three 
additional State Senate Districts, and six additional State Assembly 
Districts that represented communities of color in New York State.
  In 2001, Mr. Vann was elected to the New York City Council. He has 
done a tremendous job as Chair of the Council's Committee on Community 
Development, where he has addressed poverty, foreclosures, and 
predatory equity. While in the New York City Council, Councilman Vann 
founded the 36th Council District Katrina Relief Effort, the Black 
Brooklyn Empowerment Convention, and New York City Works, which strives 
to reduce the disproportionately high unemployment rate in Black and 
Latino communities.
  Recognizing the importance of empowering residents to improve their 
communities, he created several taskforces including: Education 
Taskforce; Senior Taskforce; Community Safety Taskforce; Youth 
Taskforce; and the Coalition for the Improvement of Bedford-Stuyvesant. 
Through his leadership with the Council's HIV/AIDS Faith-Based 
Initiative, Councilman Vann has improved HIV/AIDS

[[Page E1264]]

prevention outreach throughout New York City. Councilman Vann's vision 
led to the co-naming of Fulton Street as Harriet Ross Tubman Avenue and 
New York State's recognition of Harriet Tubman Day.
  Councilman Vann has truly been a trailblazer, whose positive 
influence will have an everlasting effect on the community. His record 
of achievement would not have been possible without the love and 
support of his wife, Mildred Vann, their four children and eight 
grandchildren. We thank his family for sharing him with us all. Mr. 
Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me 
in congratulating Councilman Vann on his 30 years of outstanding 
service. For his commitment to the people of Brooklyn, he is worthy of 
the highest praise.

                          ____________________