[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15369]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO LAWYERS' COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW

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                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 18, 2003

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride 
that I rise today to pay special tribute to the Lawyers' Committee for 
Civil Rights Under Law for their great work in promoting civil rights 
and equal justice.
  The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a nonpartisan, 
nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President 
John F. Kennedy, to involve the private bar in providing legal services 
to address racial discrimination. The establishment of the Committee 
sought to fulfill the expectation of America's leaders that the private 
bar become an active force in the continuing struggles for equal 
opportunity and racial equality. The principal mission is to secure, 
through the rule of law, equal justice under law.
  The Committee's major objective is to use the skills and resources of 
the bar to obtain equal opportunity for minorities by addressing 
factors that contribute to racial justice and economic opportunity. 
Given our nation's history of racial discrimination, segregation, and 
the de facto inequities that persist, the Lawyers' Committee's primary 
focus is to represent the interest of African Americans in particular, 
other racial and ethnic minorities, and other victims of 
discrimination, where doing so can help to secure justice for all 
racial and ethnic minorities.
  The Lawyers' Committee implements its mission and objectives by 
marshaling the pro bono resources of the bar for litigation, public 
policy advocacy, and other forms of service by lawyers to the cause of 
civil rights.
  For decades, the Committee has made a lasting impact on civil rights 
in America. The Lawyers' Committee has continually pressed forth its 
mission to mobilize the bar in upholding the principles of equal 
opportunity and racial equality as the standards by which the integrity 
of American democracy is judged.
  This year the Lawyers' Committee celebrates its 40th Anniversary. In 
celebration, the Lawyers' Committee is convening a major symposium, The 
Quest for Equal Justice: Advancing a Dynamic Civil Rights Agenda for 
Our Times--July 18 to 19 at the International Trade Center in 
Washington, DC. Distinguished participants will examine the progress 
that has been achieved and the many outstanding challenges presented by 
the persistence of racial, ethnic, gender and other forms of 
discrimination. The symposium hopes to address critical civil rights 
issues in the opening decades of the twenty-first century.
  Mr. Speaker, at a time when we face the imminent danger of once again 
losing much of what has been gained in the national journey to equal 
rights it is critical that the Lawyers' Committee be given proper 
commendation for their continued hard work and dedication to civil 
rights. So, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying special tribute to 
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. We wish them all the 
best as we acknowledge all of their accomplishments.

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