[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 5 (Thursday, January 9, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E20-E21]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNITION OF THE LIFE AND CAREER OF JIM WEILL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 9, 2020

  Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Jim Weill, a 
dedicated advocate who has spent his 50-year career standing up for 
what's right, and fighting to end poverty and promote social justice in 
this country.
  As President of the Food Research & Action Center, also known as 
FRAC, Jim spent the last 22 years as a vital partner in the fight to 
eliminate hunger--my long-time priority here in Congress.
  During this time, he has worked hard to expand programs that are 
essential to reducing hunger for so many, including SNAP, school lunch 
and breakfast, after school and summer food programs, child care food, 
and WIC. He's also been a champion of poverty reduction measures like 
the refundable Child Tax Credit.
  Madam Speaker, Jim's commitment to ending the epidemic of hunger in 
this country cannot be understated, and is exemplified by his tireless 
efforts to strengthen the coalition to end it. He not only helped 
bolster FRAC's network of state and local partners, but he's also 
launched and nurtured strong new anti-hunger advocacy groups, including 
in Maryland and the District of Columbia--bringing more allies into 
this important fight.
  His lifetime of advocacy has led him to other prominent roles as 
well. Early in his career, Jim served as counsel at the Legal 
Assistance Foundation of Chicago as the Director of Federal Litigation 
and Social Impact Projects, where he worked on over 100 federal class 
action and impact cases. This important work helped protect people on 
Social Security, Medicaid, AFDC, Food Stamps, and other public 
benefits. He also worked to improve our immigration system and combat 
discrimination against racial minorities and women.

[[Page E21]]

  As if all that weren't enough, Jim spent 16 years as Program Director 
and General Counsel at the Children's Defense Fund, where he helped 
safeguard and expand essential programs promoting youth health and 
well-being. Jim played a leading role in the fight to expand Medicaid 
and made major contributions to the enactment of several programs to 
promote youth health like the Children's Health Insurance Program. His 
leadership on children's rights helped spur child support enforcement 
reforms as well as the expansion of federal fair housing laws to 
include families with children.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress and all the 
people in whose lives Jim has made a positive difference, it is my 
great privilege and honor to thank and recognize Jim Weill for his 
tireless efforts to create a more just and equitable world. I'm truly 
grateful to call him a friend.

                          ____________________