[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 36 (Thursday, February 25, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND HONORING FENTRICE DRISKELL

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                        HON. STEPHANIE N. MURPHY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 25, 2021

  Mrs. MURPHY of Florida. Madam Speaker, as part of our national 
celebration of Black History Month, I am paying tribute to African-
American leaders from Florida who have made outstanding contributions 
to our community and our country. These accomplished men and women have 
not always received the recognition they have earned.
  Today I rise to honor Fentrice Driskell. Originally from Lakeland, 
Fentrice graduated as valedictorian of Lake Gibson High School and was 
the governor of Florida's 50th session of Girls State. Fentrice earned 
her bachelor's degree from Harvard University and her law degree from 
Georgetown University. As an undergraduate, she was the first Black 
woman ever elected as Harvard's student government president.
  After returning to Florida, Fentrice clerked for the Honorable Anne 
C. Conway of the U.S. District Court of the Middle District of Florida. 
She served as a leader in The Florida Bar, and is currently of counsel 
at the Tampa-based law firm, Carlton Fields. Fentrice is a past 
president of the George Edgecomb Bar Association, Tampa Bay's largest 
predominately African-American voluntary bar association.
  In 2018, Fentrice was elected to the Florida House of 
Representatives, where she serves as policy chair for the Democratic 
Caucus.
  Representative Driskell is a trailblazer, a fierce and effective 
advocate for her Tampa constituents, and a source of tremendous pride 
for her fellow Floridians.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating Fentrice 
Driskell.

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