[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 211 (Monday, December 14, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF TONY LEE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PRAMILA JAYAPAL

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 14, 2020

  Ms. JAYAPAL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of 
longtime Seattle resident Tony Lee, who died on November 12, 2020. Over 
his more than 30-year career, Tony had a deep and personal impact on 
our community. He leaves behind a tremendous legacy of dedicated public 
service.
  Tony Lee was a kind-hearted friend, activist and advocate, and a 
devoted family member. He was humble and wise. Those of us lucky enough 
to have known him will forever remember his booming, infectious laugh.
  Tony joined the Seattle community at a young age, when he immigrated 
to the United States from China via Brazil with his family. He went on 
to graduate from Harvard and earn a law degree from the University of 
Washington. Upon starting his career as a lawyer, Tony quickly found 
his true calling: civil rights advocacy.
  Tony began his career as an attorney for Evergreen Legal Services, 
representing the needs of indigent clients as well as immigrants and 
refugees. He later served as the Advocacy Director for Solid Ground, 
where he led the anti-poverty, anti-racist organization's work to save 
cash assistance programs for people with disabilities and mental 
illness, expand Medicaid to cover dental care, and overcome housing 
discrimination in Washington State over 21 years. He is widely 
recognized for his leadership in creating and maintaining critical 
safety net services for immigrant and refugee communities, making 
Washington State a shining example for immigrant inclusion nationwide.
  Tony's advocacy and activism stretched well beyond his formal work 
positions, putting him frequently at the forefront of important efforts 
and movements. Among these, Tony fought for rent control, on peace and 
social justice issues and for economic justice. He helped found the 
Statewide Poverty Action Network and create the Food Assistance 
Program, which promotes expanding public benefits and broadening the 
safety net for low-income people in Washington State. He served as a 
leader with the Equity in Education Commission, the King County Chapter 
of the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, Seattle Human Services 
Coalition, Church Council of Greater Seattle, the Washington 
Association of Churches, and the Catholic Archdiocese.
  Even after his semi-retirement in 2014, Tony could still be found 
advocating in the halls of the Washington State Legislature, where he 
was, in the words of Representative Frank Chopp, the ``conscience of 
Washington State.''
  I had the pleasure of working with Tony over the more than decade I 
spent organizing for immigrant rights, doing lobby days in the state 
capitol, advocating for poor people and the most vulnerable and 
fighting for immigrants and refugees, and there was simply no-one who 
knew the subject matter better or was more devoted than Tony Lee.
  Tony will be dearly missed, and his tremendous legacy promoting a 
more just and kind Seattle will continue to grow through the 
communities and lives he touched. He is survived by his wife, Angela 
Bartels; former wife, Sharon Lee; his son, Chris; siblings Bernadette, 
Cecilia, Joe, Marie, and Mary; and many nieces and nephews.
  For his years of dedicated and compassionate service. I am proud to 
express my deep appreciation for Tony Lee and his advocacy for the most 
vulnerable members of our community. My heart is with his loved ones 
during this difficult time. May he rest in power.

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