[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 121 (Thursday, July 25, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E774-E775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE INCREDIBLE CAREER OF THE HONORABLE DIANA E. BAJOIE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TROY A. CARTER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 25, 2024

  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate an 
incredible New Orleans Matriarch, former State Senator Diana Bajoie. 
She is one for the history books. As a young woman in her twenties, she 
began her public service in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 
where she served as the only woman in that body during her first term. 
In 1991, she became the first African American woman ever elected to 
the Louisiana State Senate. In 2004, she took the oath as Senate 
President pro-tempore, and became the first woman ever elected to a 
leadership post in the Louisiana State Senate. In 2012, Senator Bajoie 
was appointed by Mayor Landrieu to fill a vacancy on the New Orleans 
City Council in District B.
  Former Senator Diana E. Bajoie is not just a public servant in 
title--she is a public servant in spirit, heart, and deeds. Her 
colleagues describe her as one who fights for communities, families, 
and Louisiana with tireless compassion. The Senator nurtured her early 
interest in community service by attending Southern University and A&M 
College in Baton Rouge, earning a bachelor's degree in political 
science. She also attended the Southern University School of Law. An 
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree was conferred upon former 
Senator Diana E. Bajoie at their Fall 2018 Commencement. The University 
recognized the Senator as a pioneer in state politics and acknowledged 
the many contributions and efforts in improving the quality of life for 
all.
  Former Senator Diana E. Bajoie is a part-time member of the staff of 
LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans as Director of Community 
Relations. She works with LSU Health Sciences Center's six schools to 
define and implement community relations programs and work to promote 
cultural diversity among faculty, staff, and students.
  As a State Legislator, Ms. Bajoie served as Vice Chair of the Finance 
Committee that handled the operating budget for the State of Louisiana. 
At that time, the operating budget was over several billion dollars. 
Her health care experience is extensive. She was a ranking member of 
the Health and Welfare Committee where she served for over 25 years 
between the House and the Senate.
  She led the efforts to create school-based health clinics and wrote 
legislation to provide breast cancer screening and treatment for low 
income and uninsured women, mandated coverage of mammography and other 
cancer screening tests, and increase health care coverage for citizens 
with mental health disorders. She sponsored legislation that created 
the Louisiana Cancer Research Center in New Orleans, The Metropolitan 
Human Services District that services Orleans, St. Bernard, and 
Plaquemines Parishes to treat vulnerable residents for mental illness, 
addictive disorder intellectual and or developmental disabilities and 
she also created The Minority Health Care Commission.
  She worked to ensure recognition of the contributions of African 
Americans to New Orleans, Louisiana, and the nation. Her efforts 
resulted in legislation to create the Louisiana State Museum on Civil 
Rights, that has finally come to fruition in 2023, and the expansion 
and renaming of the New Orleans Convention Center in honor of the 
city's first African American Mayor, ``The Ernest N. Morial Convention 
Center.'' Bajoie introduced the Civil Rights Museum legislation during 
the Governor Foster administration.
  Governor Murphy James Foster Jr. was Louisiana's 53rd governor. His 
grandfather, Murphy J. Foster Sr., the 31st Louisiana governor, 
supported the 1898 Louisiana Constitution, which disfranchised the 
Black majority. Murphy Jr.'s conservative platform included attacks on 
welfare abuse, gun control, affirmative action, and racial quotas 
during the era of affirmative action. Undeterred by Foster's position, 
every year, Bajoie ensured ``something'' was put in the state budget 
for the Civil Rights Museum.
  During speaking engagements, Bajoie credits Hassan Haley (son of 
Oretha Castle Haley and Richard Haley), Don Hubbard and Loyce Wright 
for keeping the dream of the museum alive. ``I also want to thank 
Lieutenant Nungesser. We need people to keep the fight going because 
we're just beginning. We want to make sure we tell our own story. It's 
taken a long time. It's like making gumbo. If you go too fast, it won't 
come out right.'' She continues to express a need to focus on raising 
more money to keep the museum going. The Civil Rights Museum will be 
permanently housed on this property.
  Ms. Bajoie is a founder and former chair of the Louisiana Legislative 
Black Caucus and the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus. She also is 
a founder and served as President of the National Organization of Black 
Elected Legislative Women, a national legislative women's organization 
which encourages and supports women in public and community service. 
She also served on the Louisiana Recovery Authority Board helping to 
rebuild the state after the devastating disasters of Hurricanes Katrina 
and Rita.
  Outside of state politics, Ms. Bajoie has been involved in a myriad 
of civic organizations where she served as a Trustee for the National 
World War II Museum, a member of the WYES-TV Board of Directors, Xavier 
University of Louisiana Board of Visitors and Dillard University 
Advisory Board.
  The Former Senator presently serve as a commissioner on the board of 
the New Orleans East Hospital, the National Organization of Black Women 
Legislators, LePetit Theater, and Mercy Endeavor Senior Center, just to 
name a few.
  She is a Life Member of the Southern University Alumni Federation and 
a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She has 
received numerous awards, including the City of New Orleans' Mayor 
Morial Medal of Honor. Former Sen. Bajoie was named the Susan G. Komen 
Breast Cancer Survivor of the Year in 2000. She was honored at the 
Delta Sigma Theta's 48th National Convention with the National Patricia 
Harris Award for Excellence in Government. She was inducted into the 
Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in 2007 and was later honored in 2010 
by The Louisiana Center for Women in Government with its Lifetime 
Achievement Award. She was also named by the New Orleans Tribune as one 
of 18 Black Women ``That Made New Orleans Better'', who changed the 
City in the last 300 years. Mayor Landrieu named the former Senator a 
New Orleans Legend in honor of the city's Tricentennial.
  Last, but certainly not least, Sen. Diana E. Bajoie is a mentor--a 
mentor to students, to young people and families across the state 
striving to better themselves, their communities and Louisiana. She 
frequently shares her experiences and ideas in the classroom as well as 
with civic organizations and leadership development programs.

[[Page E775]]

  The former Senator Bajoie legacy has spanned over three decades, she 
has fearlessly opened doors, not for herself but for others. Her work 
paves the way for young people to grow and build a better Louisiana. 
This shall be her Legacy.
  On a personal note, I am honored to have served alongside Former 
Senator Diana Bajoie, as a true mentor, supporter, and dear friend. She 
is a true fighter--as a ``lioness at heart,'' but Don Hubbard calls her 
``killer''. The Greater New Orleans Community is blessed to have this 
incredible gem still making a difference in our great state. I am proud 
to say I can connect with her throughout my political career, and as 
Congressman, respecting the guidance and support she gives. I am 
forever grateful for her commitment to the residents of Louisiana, and 
guidance to our program. I will forever carry her direction as I serve 
the Constituents of LA02. May God continue to bless her.

                          ____________________