[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 24, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO HARPER LEE

  (Mr. BYRNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, last week the world lost a literary giant and 
Alabama lost a legend. A native of Alabama's First Congressional 
District, Nelle Harper Lee was born and died in Monroeville, Alabama, 
the city that served as an inspiration for the town of Maycomb in her 
legendary novel ``To Kill a Mockingbird.''
  Nelle received many honors throughout her life, including being 
inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor, receiving the Presidential 
Medal of Freedom, and being awarded the National Medal of Arts.
  She was known as a private woman, but her writings inspired 
generations, promoted acceptance, and taught us all important life 
lessons.
  Sadly, she passed away in Monroeville on February 19 at the age of 
89.
  One of the best lessons Nelle taught us was about tolerance. As she 
wrote in ``To Kill a Mockingbird,'' ``You never really understand a 
person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you 
climb into his skin and walk around in it.''
  May we all take time to reflect on the life of Nelle Harper Lee, and 
may we all continue to live out her lesson of tolerance each and every 
day.

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