[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 204 (Thursday, December 14, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1709-E1710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF EDWIN M. LEE, MAYOR OF THE CITY AND 
                        COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 14, 2017

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my fellow San Francisco 
Representative, Jackie Speier, as well as my Congressional colleagues, 
Representatives Barbara Lee, Judy Chu, Madeleine Bordallo, Lou Correa, 
Keith Ellison, Anna Eshoo, Al Green, Jimmy Gomez, Colleen Hanabusa, 
Jared Huffman, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ted Lieu, Alan 
Lowenthal, Mark Takano, Norma Torres, Grace Meng, Stephanie Murphy, 
Grace Napolitano, Adam Schiff, Eric Swalwell, Jim Costa, and Nydia 
Velazquez, in great sorrow to pay tribute to a dear friend and an 
extraordinary leader: Mayor Edwin M. Lee, who died suddenly and 
tragically on December 12.
  Ed Lee served as Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco with 
devotion and distinction. All who knew Ed understood him as a true 
gentleman of great warmth, positivity and kindness.
  His passing is not only a tragic official loss for our city but also 
an immense personal loss for all who were fortunate enough to call him 
friend.
  Even through our heartbreak, we think of the exceptional person Ed 
Lee was, and we smile.
  Born the fourth of six children to hard-working Chinese immigrant 
parents of modest means, Ed was raised in public housing, and lost his 
father at the age of 15.
  Ed excelled at academics, winning a scholarship to Bowdoin College in 
Maine, where he graduated summa cum laude in 1974. He then graduated 
Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley in 
1978.
  Ed began his career as a community organizer and civil rights lawyer 
fighting for fair housing and on behalf of immigrant communities.
  He started his public service as director of the San Francisco Human 
Rights Commission, going on to serve as Purchasing Manager, Director of 
Public Works and City Administrator.
  Ed then served seven remarkable years as Mayor of San Francisco, an 
office he held with exceptional dignity and great effectiveness. He 
took pride in being the first Asian American Mayor of a city with such 
a rich and robust Asian American heritage.
  Ed's firm commitment to equality made strong progress toward securing 
affordable housing and a living wage for all.
  His unwavering belief in justice helped combat the moral crisis of 
homeless in San Francisco, particularly for our veterans.
  And his bold, hopeful vision for the future further secured San 
Francisco's role as a model city for the nation.
  In all aspects of his life, Mayor Lee's first priority was always the 
people.
  He fundamentally understood that the strength of a community is 
measured by its success in meeting the needs of all its people.
  Mayor Lee's greatest source of joy was his beloved family. Our city 
owes a debt of gratitude to his wife Anita and his daughters

[[Page E1710]]

Brianna and Tania for sharing this remarkable man with us.
  Our deepest love and prayers are with his family. May it bring them 
some measure of comfort that so many mourn with them and continue to be 
inspired by him.
  During this difficult time, our full support is also with Acting 
Mayor London Breed, the Board of Supervisors and all the people of San 
Francisco.

                          ____________________