[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 29020]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                      TRIBUTE TO ELIZABETH PORTER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 14, 2003

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life, work, 
and memory of Elizabeth Porter. Liz dedicated her life to serving and 
empowering people in the pursuit of peace and justice. Tragically, at 
only 38 years old, Liz was taken from us on Saturday, October 25th due 
to a brain aneurysm. It is no surprise that this alarming news brought 
people from all over to Roberts Park in my district last Saturday to 
honor her amazing life.
  Liz's work in the pursuit of global peace and justice was 
extraordinary. Fluent in Spanish and French, she began her career in 
public service by serving in the Peace Corps in Niger, Africa. Despite 
contracting falciparum malaria in her first month on the job and being 
flown to France for treatment, Liz didn't hesitate to immediately 
return to West Africa to complete her two-year assignment. Following 
her Peace Corps work, Liz then took part in the World Teach program in 
Manta, Ecuador.
  Liz returned to the United States in the early 1990's, and earned a 
law degree from the University of San Francisco. Liz began serving the 
immigrant community as a staff attorney for California Rural Legal 
Assistance in Modesto, winning numerous cases. After more than 3 years, 
Liz moved on to the legal department at the California School Employees 
Association where she worked until her untimely death 2 weeks ago.
  Liz was serious about her beliefs, but more than anything else, she 
was fun. She loved music, the outdoors, a good glass of wine--and her 
laughter was infectious. She also never missed sending a note or gift 
to one of her countless nieces and nephews. Liz--or ``Fizz'' as she was 
known to her 7 brothers and sisters--was a light for peace and justice 
in a world that desperately needed her passion, her strength, her 
laughter, and her love.
  Liz is survived by her husband, John Gragnani, a marriage and family 
counselor with Contra Costa County, and a memorial fund has been 
established to continue assistance to a family in Togo, West Africa, 
that Liz had been supporting. I join my colleagues today in honoring 
her memory and her life.

                          ____________________