[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H1790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF WILLIE MIMS

  (Mr. DeSAULNIER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of 
Willie Mims.
  Mr. Speaker, throughout Mr. Mims' life he has shown his commitment to 
educating, serving, and empowering residents of the community that I 
have represented for some time now in Contra Costa County in the San 
Francisco Bay Area.
  In 1963, Willie began engaging in local politics, advocating for the 
Rumford Fair Housing Act, which aimed to combat racial discrimination 
in housing in California. He went on to obtain his teaching credentials 
and had a long career in teaching with the Vallejo City Unified School 
District.
  Willie is also an original member of Pittsburg's Black Political 
Association and part of the executive committee of the East Contra 
Costa County Branch of the NAACP. He was instrumental in the creation 
of the Antioch Unified School District's African American Male 
Achievement Initiative, which sought to address racial disparities in 
education. Willie received the Dr. Martin Luther King Freedom Fighter 
Award in 2008 in recognition of his many efforts to promote racial 
justice and equity.
  Willie is a true leader and friend. We are grateful for the positive 
impact that his work has had across our community. Please join me in 
recognizing Willie for his many years of devoted service to his 
community.

                          ____________________