[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21954]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                TRIBUTE TO STATE SENATOR PAULA J. CARTER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. WM. LACY CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 7, 2001

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my profound sadness 
over the passing on Monday of Missouri State Senator Paula J. Carter, 
one of Missouri's most distinguished and respected public servants. She 
was a powerful force in the state legislature and represented her St. 
Louis constituents well during her combined 15 years of service in the 
Missouri Senate and House of Representatives.
  Paula Carter was a dear friend of a former colleague of mine in the 
Missouri General Assembly, and her passing is a tremendous loss to 
those of us who had the privilege of serving with her. She will be 
greatly missed.
  Paula Carter began her career as a public servant in 1984, when she 
was elected Committeewoman of the 27th Ward in St. Louis and two years 
later she was elected to her first term in the Missouri House of 
Representatives. While in the House, she became an outspoken champion 
of the poor, the disabled and the disenfranchised, and she worked 
tirelessly to make Missouri government more caring and responsive to 
our state's neediest citizens. Through her efforts in the House, 
Missouri improved its assistance and care of those with mental illness 
and disabilities, and expanded employment and educational opportunities 
for women and minorities.
  In March 2000, Senator Carter was elected to the Fifth Senate 
District seat in a special election and subsequently re-elected to her 
first full term in November 2001. She wasted little time in making her 
presence felt in the upper chamber. She served on the Senate 
Appropriations Committee; the Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence 
Committee; the Insurance and Housing Committee; and the Aging, Families 
and Mental Health Committee. She also served as President of the 
Missouri Legislative Black Caucus.
  Despite her illness, just two months ago in a special legislative 
session, Paula Carter played an instrumental role in the passage of a 
critical prescription drug benefit plan for Missouri senior citizens. 
As always, Paula Carter never let her own physical limitations get in 
the way of her commitment to helping those less fortunate.
  So on behalf of the Missouri delegation of the U.S. House of 
Representatives, I want to offer our deepest sympathies and condolences 
to the family of Senator Paula Carter. She will be greatly missed, both 
in our state capital and in her beloved City of St. Louis, but her 
legislative legacy and accomplishments will endure in the thousands of 
people she touched through her leadership and determination.

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