[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 14, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF JOY ATKINSON

  (Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart to honor 
the remarkable life of civil rights activist and community leader, Joy 
Atkinson.
  Joy dedicated her life to mentoring thousands of Black women to 
become the next generation of changemakers in Los Angeles, and I was 
one of them.
  Joy was the first person to introduce me to public policy work. 
Without her, I would not be standing here today as a Member of 
Congress. Whether advising local elected officials or leading the Los 
Angeles African-American Women's Public Policy Institute, her 
integrity, courage, and commitment to building coalitions and creating 
change never wavered.
  In my city, Joy touched the lives of anybody who was anybody. With 
her unexpected passing, we have not only lost a giant in the fight for 
justice but also a beloved mother, friend, and confidant. Her legacy 
will endure as we continue working toward the more equitable and 
inclusive society in which she so deeply believed.
  May she rest in peace.

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