[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 33 (Friday, February 18, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CELEBRATING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF MRS. WILLIE LEE MOSES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK TAKANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 18, 2022

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th 
birthday of Mrs. Willie Lee Moses, a constituent of mine and a woman 
known to her community as the ``Mayor of Good Hope.'' The dedication 
that Mrs. Moses has to her community has made a profound difference in 
the Inland Empire, and it is my honor to recognize her work.
  The impact of Mrs. Moses' work is difficult to overstate. Born in 
northern Louisiana, Mrs. Moses and her husband settled in Perris in 
1957 and immediately became active members of their community. Besides 
being a mother of five and an employee of Perris School District for 
over two decades, Mrs. Moses was also elected as the president of 
multiple Parent Teacher Associations at various schools and served in 
union leadership as a job steward for fellow school district employees. 
An avid organizer, Mrs. Moses ran voter registration drives, worked on 
political campaigns, and was a leader in the area's first Human 
Relations Commission, which worked to facilitate dialogue on race 
relations among the community of Perris Valley. The Moses Schaffer 
Community Center now bears her name, recognizing the tireless work she 
did in support of the construction of critical infrastructure that 
enabled her city to thrive.
  Mrs. Moses' generosity is well-known in the City of Perris. For 35 
years, Mrs. Moses coordinated a free food program to ensure that low-
income seniors always had resources to turn to. Over the decades, her 
family room has served as a gathering place for friends and neighbors, 
including the many years that she hosted meals for those stationed at 
the March Air Reserve Base with nowhere to go for the holidays. Her 
tireless work emulates her trailblazing spirit--she was often the first 
African American in the leadership positions she took on, and her 
commitment to civil rights and civic duty has forever changed the 
Inland Empire community for the better.
  Mrs. Moses has done more for her community in her 100 years than many 
could achieve in several lifetimes. It is with gratitude that I wish 
her a very happy birthday and thank her for her leadership and vision. 
Her example has set a high bar for all of us in public service, and I 
am honored to have her in our community.

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