[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 2, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





              LIONEL R. COLLINS, SR. POST OFFICE BUILDING

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. STEVE SCALISE

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 1, 2016

  Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2458 and thank 
my colleague and friend Congressman Cedric Richmond for his leadership 
in bringing this important bill to the House floor. The Honorable 
Lionel R. Collins Sr. is a true Louisiana and American hero, and this 
bill honors his life and achievements with a fitting tribute.
  Judge Collins served on the bench in the 24th Judicial District Court 
in Gretna, Louisiana and was the first African-American elected to 
public office in my home parish of Jefferson, Louisiana. He also led 
the efforts to integrate Jefferson Medical Center and helped integrate 
Jefferson Parish public schools.
  Judge Collins had an innate sense of justice. His colleagues 
described him as a `hardworking, fair and honest judge . . . tough when 
he had to be tough, but he had a sense of fairness.'
  While we can never fully repay Lionel Collins for his distinguished 
public service, we can honor his life and legacy as a pioneering civil 
rights attorney and an education champion in southeast Louisiana by 
passing this legislation. Judge Collins made meaningful impacts that 
advanced equality, justice, health care, and access to quality 
education. In fact, the Ames Montessori elementary school in Marrero 
was renamed Judge Lionel R. Collins Elementary in 2011.
  Our community is better for the life and service of Judge Collins.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this measure to 
memorialize a respected defender of civil liberties, and I urge passage 
of this legislation by Congressman Richmond.

                          ____________________