[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 199 (Tuesday, December 18, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7784]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO EDMUND G. BROWN, JR.

 Ms. HARRIS. Mr. President, today I wish to express my deepest 
appreciation to Governor Edmund G. ``Jerry'' Brown, Jr., for his nearly 
50 years of committed public service to the people of California.
  The son of a former California Governor, Jerry was born in San 
Francisco in 1938 to Pat Brown and Bernice Layne. He graduated from the 
University of California, Berkeley in 1961 before earning his law 
degree from Yale University in 1964. He began his statewide career in 
public service in 1970 after winning his first election as California 
secretary of state.
  In 1974, Jerry became Governor of California for the first time, 
implementing an agenda that epitomizes the essence of California 
values. He helped create millions of jobs and strengthened the 
environment. He passed the Agricultural Labor Relations Act and led the 
cause for the introduction of government funding in renewable energy 
research. After 8 years in office, Jerry had a distinguished law 
career, ran for Federal office on a platform dedicated to empowering 
communities and affecting change, and served as chairman of the 
California Democratic Party.
  He reentered public life in 1998, this time as mayor of the great 
city of Oakland, my hometown. As mayor, Jerry worked diligently to 
revitalize downtown Oakland, reduce crime, and expand educational 
opportunities. In 2006, he became California attorney general and 
prioritized consumer protection, environmental protection, and 
combating the underground economy.
  Finally, in 2011, Mr. Brown returned to the Governor's seat where his 
record can only be described as extraordinary. Jerry has brought 
California's unemployment rate to record lows, expanded health coverage 
to millions in the wake of the Affordable Care Act, and established 
groundbreaking policies to combat climate change that have inspired our 
Nation and the world. Before joining the U.S. Senate, I worked with 
Jerry for 6 years as attorney general of California, during which we 
tackled an economic and housing crisis of epic proportions and fought 
to protect the privacy and cyber security of California's residents and 
businesses. Since joining the U.S. Senate, Jerry, Senator Feinstein, 
and I have worked together to bring critical aid to those affected by 
the deadly wildfires that have ravaged our State.
  I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to honor Governor 
Brown's leadership and achievements today on the Senate Floor. His 
ability to bring sweeping change to improve the lives of the people he 
serves and the communities he governs is truly inspiring. His 
unwavering commitment to the people of California and vision for a more 
perfect union will long be remembered and cherished in the pages of 
history.

                          ____________________