[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 171 (Tuesday, October 29, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1361-E1362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE JOHN CONYERS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. KAREN BASS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 28, 2019

  Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay a special tribute to 
Congressman John Conyers. He was one of the 13 founding members of the 
Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). He served for 53 years in the U.S. 
House of Representatives--making him one of the longest-serving House 
members in U.S. history and the first African American to hold the 
title of dean.
  Congressman John Conyers, Jr., was born in Detroit, Michigan, on May 
16, 1929, the eldest of four sons of John and Lucille (Simpson) 
Conyers. Congressman Conyers attended Detroit public schools and 
graduated from Northwestern High School in 1947. After graduating from 
high school, Mr. Conyers served in the National Guard from (1948 to 
1950) and then joined the U.S. Army for four years.
  Congressman Conyers later attended officer candidate school and was 
commissioned as a second lieutenant. During his time in the Army, he 
served in Korea for a year. He was honorably discharged in 1954 and 
served three more years in the Army Reserves.
  He was inspired by his friend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to run for 
office and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1964. His 
first hire was civil rights hero Rosa Parks. She served as an aide to 
Mr. Conyers for 22 years from 1964 until she retired in 1988. During 
his time in Congress, Representative Conyers chaired the Government 
Oversight and Reform Committee (formerly the Government Operations 
Committee) and was the first African American to serve on the House 
Judiciary Committee and to become its chair.
  As a human rights and civil rights champion, Mr. Conyers opposed the 
death penalty and fought for police brutality oversight. He was a lead 
co-sponsor of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Mr. Conyers also assisted 
in passing the Help America Vote Act (2002), the Violence Against Women 
Act (1994), the Motor Voter Bill (1993), the Jazz Preservation Act 
(1987), and the Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday Act (1983).
  His legislative record extends to introducing the Medicare For All 
Act, legislation to establish a government-sponsored, single-payer

[[Page E1362]]

healthcare option to control costs. Additionally, Representative 
Conyers also championed the issue of reparations by introducing a bill 
to establish a commission to study the effect of slavery and race 
relations in America, which he fought for consideration every year.
  His fight for justice also extended to international issues, as well. 
Mr. Conyers was an early leader in the anti-Vietnam War movement, in 
addition to the anti-Iraq War movement. He was also a vocal opponent of 
South Africa's apartheid policies. Congressman Conyers joined 
Congressman Ron Dellums and other CBC Members in confronting President 
Nixon about imposing sanctions against South Africa. When it became 
clear he would not act, Congressman Conyers joined Congressman Dellums 
in introducing legislation to that end and was even arrested at a 
protest in front of the South African embassy.
  He impacted so many people in his district and throughout the 
country. America is a better country today because of the legislative 
and advocacy work of Representative John Conyers, Jr.

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