[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 201 (Thursday, December 20, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1718-E1719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING DR. HOWARD SIMON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FREDERICA S. WILSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 20, 2018

  Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true 
Florida civil rights icon, Dr. Howard Simon. Dr. Simon has served as 
executive director of the Florida branch of the American Civil 
Liberties Union since 1977. Before his appointment to his current 
position, Dr. Simon oversaw the ACLU's Michigan branch. Remarkably, his 
44 cumulative years of service as a state director is the longest in 
the ACLU's 98-year history. In this capacity, he has been an outspoken 
champion for marginalized communities.
  During Dr. Simon's tenure, the regional ACLU affiliate has taken on 
many major cases to defend Floridians' civil liberties. It successfully 
fought to end the use of paperless electronic voting systems after 
problems were exposed during a 2006 congressional election. This led to 
the optimization and standardization of voting across every county in 
the state.

[[Page E1719]]

  Under Dr. Simon's leadership, the organization has also filed several 
lawsuits to halt dangerous initiatives passed by the state legislature. 
One suit successfully blocked a law requiring all applicants for 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to submit to baseless drugs 
tests. As the representative of one of the most disadvantaged districts 
in the country, I am deeply concerned by attacks on public benefits 
programs on which many of my constituents heavily rely.
  In addition to overseeing the ACLU's legal, public education, 
legislative lobbying, and membership and fundraising programs, Dr. 
Simon frequently pens editorials for regional publications, challenging 
policies that undermine Floridians' constitutional freedoms.
  I am grateful to Dr. Simon for his work defending Floridians' civil 
liberties. Unfortunately, it is often the most disadvantaged who are 
targeted by policies that threaten their rights or otherwise lack the 
necessary resources to defend themselves.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Dr. Howard Simon and 
congratulate him on a remarkable career. Dr. Simon recently announced 
plans to retire after leading the Florida ACLU affiliate for 21 years. 
I wish him all the best and thank him for his exemplary service to my 
home state.

                          ____________________