[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 21, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E789-E790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF ALBERT EARL BROOKS, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 21, 2021

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of my 
dear friend, Albert Earl Brooks, Sr., a highly distinguished community 
leader who passed away on March 25, 2021.
  Albert Brooks dedicated his life to serving others and participating 
in the struggle for racial equality, social and economic equity, and 
voting rights. Al was born in Tabor City, North Carolina and grew up in 
Buffalo, New York. He joined the United States Army and then received 
his B.A. from the University of New York at Buffalo.
  After completing his service in the Army, Al served as the Executive 
Director of the Buffalo Affirmative Action Plan. He was then selected 
by Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York to work for the Department 
of Transportation in Washington, D.C. While working in the Office of 
the Secretary of Transportation, Al

[[Page E790]]

served as a Civil Rights Specialist and External Complaints 
Coordinator. This experience allowed him to transition to the 
Department of Labor where he worked as an Equal Opportunity Specialist 
and Civil Rights Officer. During his time at the Department of Labor, 
he became Executive Director for a program under the A. Philip Randolph 
lnstitute's Educational Fund. Under his leadership, the program pushed 
for desegregation of labor unions and to provide training for African 
American men who were historically denied employment in the trades 
industry.
  His commitment to service extended beyond his professional life. Al 
was deeply involved in local politics and community activism. He was an 
active member of the Prince William County NAACP branch, the National 
Urban League, and the Prince William County Democratic Committee.
  Al served as Chairman of the Black Democratic Committee for several 
terms and was coordinator of the PWC Democratic Committee's DMV early 
voting efforts for many years. During election season, Al would devote 
entire days to greeting voters at the DMV, passing out literature, and 
placing and removing candidate signs from the polling place.
  Voting rights, community engagement, and grassroots organization 
motivated Al in all of his endeavors. His efforts of founding the 
African American Democratic Club helped increase the number of African 
American elected officials in Prince William County. He was 
instrumental in numerous campaigns and helped many of Prince William 
County's current leaders win their elections. Al worked to ensure 
everyone's voice was heard at the ballot box and he fully understood 
the power of civic engagement. Because of this work, Al has made our 
community better.
  Madam Speaker, our community has lost a giant public servant, 
community icon, and a mentor to so many. A loving husband and father, 
Al spent his life in service to our country and to his community. I ask 
that my colleagues join me in recognizing the memory and life of my 
dear friend, Albert Earl Brooks, Sr.

                          ____________________