[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 17, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H4368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF LLOYD WILLIAMS

  (Mr. Espaillat of New York was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy 
of a good friend, Lloyd Williams, president and CEO of The Greater 
Harlem Chamber of Commerce and cofounder of HARLEM WEEK.
  Lloyd was a dear friend and beloved member of the Harlem community. 
Through his lifetime of public service, spanning more than 50 years, 
more than one-half century, Lloyd was dedicated in his unparalleled 
dedication to fostering economic empowerment, cultural pride, and 
social equity in the village of Harlem.

                              {time}  1010

  Born on January 16, 1945, in Jamaica and immigrated to New York City 
at the age of 2, where he was raised in Harlem, Lloyd committed a 
lifetime of service to the advancement and empowerment of the Harlem 
community. In many ways, Lloyd Williams was Mr. Harlem.
  He earned his higher education degree at The City College of New York 
and developed a lifelong passion for civic engagement, economic 
development, and cultural preservation.
  In 1974, Lloyd Williams, along with Manhattan Borough President Percy 
E. Sutton, Voza Rivers, and others, cofounded Harlem Week, which was 
initially designated as a 1-day event to restore community pride, yet 
it grew into a multi-week cultural festival celebrating Harlem's 
history, art, music, business, and contributions to society, attracting 
millions of people annually.
  In 1988, Lloyd was appointed president of the Greater Harlem Chamber 
of Commerce, becoming one of the longest serving leaders of this 
important organization, guiding the Chamber through periods of economic 
challenges and revitalization over more than four decades.
  Under his visionary leadership, the Greater Harlem Chamber of 
Commerce expanded its mission to promote minority-owned businesses, 
attract investment, foster entrepreneurship, and support workforce 
development initiatives that improve economic opportunities for 
Harlem's residents.
  Lloyd championed key social issues, including affordable housing, 
education reform, health equity, climate change awareness, and bridging 
the digital divide, working tirelessly to ensure that Harlem's growth 
was inclusive and reflective of the need of its diverse population.
  Lloyd was a champion of Harlem's cultural institutions and heritage 
and served as a dedicated mentor, friend, and adviser to many others 
throughout New York City.
  We are all saddened by his passing and will miss him greatly, but we 
will always and forever remember him and his enduring commitment to 
civil rights, social justice, and community advocacy.
  On a personal note, Mr. Speaker, Lloyd Williams was my friend. In the 
political terrain, I believe that he paid for our friendship, but he 
never backed down. His last message to me, a text message, simply said: 
Proud.
  Well, we are all proud of Lloyd Williams. We will never forget him. 
His impact and influence will be remembered across Harlem USA and 
across the United States of America.

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