[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 184 (Wednesday, October 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H5707]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING GENERAL COLIN POWELL

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to pay tribute to 
Secretary Colin Powell, America's general.
  Secretary Powell was more than an astute general and outstanding 
civic leader who served our Nation's President. He was kind-hearted, a 
genuine American hero. He was a man of conscience and integrity who 
bravely stood against divisiveness and lived life bringing people 
together.
  As the son of two hardworking Jamaican immigrants, he knew the 
importance of education and hard work. General Powell, as he prefers to 
be called, was the first African-American National Security Advisor, 
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secretary of State, and he 
had 35 years of service in the military for this Nation.
  He described himself in a New York Times article, and he talked about 
himself in the third person: ``Powell is a problem-solver. He was 
taught as a soldier to solve problems. So he has views, but he is not 
an ideologue. He has passion, but he is not a fanatic. He is, first and 
foremost, a problem-solver.'' And that he did.
  In Vietnam, he was a hero when the helicopter that he was in crashed, 
and he pulled out his commander, Major General Charles M. Gettys.
  Also, he was a passionate servant of the people. When he retired, he 
organized America's Promise. America's Promise helped at-risk children. 
I remember seeing his program, hearing about his program, and 
supporting his program.
  To his wonderful wife, Alma, and his children, he remains to us an 
extremely beloved individual. I am reminding all Americans, let us 
remember that a general can be soft and strong and remain a hero to all 
of us in nature, spirit, sacrifice, and deeds.
  The Nation has lost a great leader, but more importantly, the Nation 
has lost a symbol of what is best and great about America.

                          ____________________