[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 151 (Monday, October 28, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H6810-H6811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            REMEMBERING CONGRESSMAN MAJOR ROBERT ODELL OWENS

  (Mr. AL GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, like my colleagues, I mourn the 
death of Major Owens, but I also want to celebrate his life. My purpose 
for rising tonight is to do just this: celebrate his life.
  Major Owens was a person of character who had a great reputation. I 
had the honor of knowing him through my chief of staff, who was his 
chief of staff for 16 years. In working with her, she explained to me 
all of the many things that he was a party to over the course of the 
years, not only here in Congress, where he worked on legislation to 
help persons who had disabilities, but also back in his home district, 
where he was a person who championed the causes of people who were in 
need.
  It means something to me to know that he has this great reputation, 
but it is equally as important for me to share with people that he did 
have character.
  When I met with him to discuss the hiring of Jackie Ellis, my chief 
of staff, because she was working with him, and he was contemplating 
some other things and moving, he explained to me how important it was 
in this body to keep your word. He explained that, among your friends 
and your colleagues, your word is the thing that will give you the 
opportunity to continue to have support in the Congress of the United 
States of America. His words about character and integrity are still 
with me.
  I suspect that because he was a teacher--and as you know, teachers 
impact eternity--I will pass on to others what he has done because he 
passed it on to me, and what his chief of staff caused me to learn 
vicariously from him will impact my office eternally.
  I am grateful to him. I pay tribute to him. I want his family to know 
that he has been a blessing to me and to my staff and to the people I 
serve.
  God bless you, and thank you, Major.


                  Congressman Major Robert Odell Owens

  Born--June 28, 1936 (Collierville, TN).
  Elected to Congress representing Brooklyn's 12th Congressional 
District from 1983-1992 (98th-102nd Congress).
  After redistricting--Represented Brooklyn's 11th Congressional 
District from 1993-2006 (103rd-109th Congress).
  Transitioned to Eternity--October 21, 2013 (Brooklyn, NY).
  Father of five children.
  First librarian elected to Congress.
  Chaired the Brooklyn chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality 
(CORE).

[[Page H6811]]

  Past Commissioner of New York City's Community Development Agency.
  Served on the Education and Labor Committee throughout his tenure in 
Congress (From 1987-1993 chaired the Education and Labor Subcommittee 
on Select Education and Civil Rights).
  Served on the Government Reform Committee throughout his tenure in 
Congress.
  Chaired the Congressional Black Caucus Higher Education Braintrust.
  Floor manager and original co-sponsor of the American with 
Disabilities Act of 1990.
  Sponsor of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
  Authored legislation that prevented the Immigration and 
Naturalization Service from deporting the parents of American-born 
children under age 18 and legislation that extended citizenship to 
immigrant children under 12 who were in the U.S. without their parents.
  Founder and organizer of the National Commission for African American 
Education.
  Strong Organized Labor advocate--Championed the need for maintaining 
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
  Lead sponsor of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act--Providing for 
major reforms in the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) Program 
(Programs designed to aid community agencies in combating urban and 
rural poverty).
  Past chair of the CBC's Haitian Task Force.
  Has written several books including: ``Roots and Wings'', a semi-
autobiographical book about his life.
  In 2006 was named a distinguished visiting scholar at the John W. 
Kluge Center at the Library of Congress, where he completed a case 
study of the CBC and its impact on national politics.
  Prior to his death, Congressman Owens taught at Medgar Evers College 
in Brooklyn, NY.

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