[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 29 (Thursday, February 14, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S1379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                   TRIBUTE TO BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN

 Mr. CASEY, Madam President, today I wish to honor Councilwoman 
Blondell Reynolds Brown, a notable public servant in Pennsylvania, as 
she concludes 20 years of service within the Philadelphia City Council. 
Throughout her career, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown has worked to 
improve the lives of Philadelphians as an educator, community activist, 
and political leader.
  The oldest of seven children, Blondell Reynolds Brown was born in 
Sumter, SC, to Sadie Reynolds, a schoolteacher, and the late Whittimore 
Reynolds, who worked in construction. At the age 5, Reynolds Brown and 
her family moved to Philadelphia, where she would go on to graduate 
from the Philadelphia High School for Girls.
  Councilwoman Reynolds Brown demonstrated an early proclivity for 
public service. Following her graduation from Pennsylvania State 
University, she was on track to join the Peace Corps, but instead 
decided to start her service in Philadelphia and teach in the city's 
public schools.
  In 1999, Reynolds Brown was elected to one of seven at-large city 
council seats. It was her time as a legislative aide for a State 
senator that inspired her initial decision to run for city council. 
During this time, Reynolds Brown noticed a lack of Black women in 
leadership roles and led her own efforts to promote equity and 
diversity in public office.
  During her time in office, Reynolds Brown has championed meaningful 
legislation in service of children, women, arts and culture, education, 
small business development, and the environment and sustainability. 
Councilwoman Reynolds Brown's major legislative accomplishments include 
the creation of the Fund for Children, the establishment of 
requirements for menu labeling within Philadelphia, the implementation 
of sexual harassment training for city of Philadelphia employees, the 
overhaul of the parks and recreation system, and the expansion of 
domestic partner benefits within city contractors. She also did a great 
deal to advocate for the appointment of woman to board positions and 
helped leverage funding for mentorship, early childhood education, the 
arts, and Philadelphia tourism.
  Beyond her work on city council, Reynolds Brown is an active member 
of the Philadelphia community. She is a board member of the 
Philadelphia Convention and Visitor's Bureau, the Marian Anderson 
Award, Philadelphia Young Playwrights, the Greater Philadelphia 
Cultural Alliance, and Wynnefield Residents Association. Reynolds Brown 
is also an ex-officio member of the board of the Philadelphia Dance 
Company, and a general member of the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of 
the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
  I wish to thank Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown for her long 
service to Philadelphia on its city council. I wish her success in all 
her future endeavors to serve the people of Pennsylvania.

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