[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 149 (Wednesday, October 23, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               REMEMBERING FORMER CONGRESSMAN MAJOR OWENS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 23, 2013

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, for more than two decades, Congressman Major 
Owens served the citizens of Brooklyn, New York in the United States 
Congress. He was a humble man of great character and dedicated his life 
to public service. Congressman Owens was an extremely important member 
of the U.S. House of Representatives, who was an expert in education 
policy. In Congress, he fought to secure $100 million in federal funds 
for historically black colleges and spearheaded efforts to increase 
federal involvement in reducing high school dropout rates.
  Congressman Owens used his position within the halls of Congress and 
in the community to ensure that every American lived a better life. 
Congressman Owens provided leadership within the Congressional Black 
Caucus fighting for the rights of minorities in addition to advocating 
for workers and the poor and middle class families. Congressman Owens 
was also an advocate for disabled Americans playing an instrumental 
role in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 in 
Congress.
  It was an honor to serve with him as a colleague and a privilege to 
know him as a dear friend. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, 
Maria and his family during this very difficult time.

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