[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 124 (Thursday, September 19, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING RON E. ARMSTEAD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 19, 2013

  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a good 
friend on the eve of the 25th Anniversary of the Congressional Black 
Caucus Veterans Braintrust. Mr. Ron E. Armstead is the Executive 
Director of the Congressional Black Caucus Veterans Braintrust.
  In addition to being the Executive Director of the Congressional 
Black Caucus Veterans Braintrust (CBCVB), he is a past consultant for 
former Secretary Jesse Brown's Veterans Administration's Advisory 
Committee on Minority Veterans. He has served as Executive Director of 
the CBCVB since its inception in 1988, first under Rep. Charles B. 
Rangel (NY-13), a decorated Korean War combat veteran and Dean of the 
New York Congressional Delegation, and currently under myself and 
Representative Sanford Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), ranking member of 
Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related 
Agencies of the Appropriations Committee.
  Under his leadership the Veterans Braintrust has expanded from its 
small core group to become the premiere forum for policy debate between 
veterans and representatives of government in the country. As well as 
being a Navy veteran, Mr. Armstead holds a Masters Degree in City 
Planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a license in 
social work (LSW) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is 
currently on an extended leave of absence from Howard University's 
School of Social Work Doctoral Program.
  Mr. Armstead began his activist career at Boston State College in 
September 1975, as a campus organizer and later President of Student 
Government Association. During his time at BSC, he and several 
classmates incorporated the Veterans Benefits Clearinghouse, Inc. as an 
outgrowth of the Veterans Club on campus. His extensive background 
includes, but is not limited to issues of homelessness, mental health, 
social work, youth violence, affordable housing and community 
development.
  I am pleased to honor Mr. Armstead on this, the 25th Anniversary of 
the Congressional Black Caucus Veterans Braintrust.

                          ____________________