[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12620]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING STATE AND LOCAL LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE CHAMPIONED THE 
                       EXAMINATION OF REPARATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 16, 2004

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, as the author of H.R. 40, The Commission to 
Study Reparations Proposals for African Americans Act, I am proud to 
acknowledge those state and local legislators who have had the courage 
and the foresight to champion local legislation in support of 
reparations and the passage of federal legislation.
  Since its introduction in 1989, H.R. 40 has sought to focus national 
attention on the issue of compensation for slavery and post-slavery 
discrimination. Through the efforts of grassroots activists, 
reparations has grown to become a topic of discussion and debate on 
numerous national television and radio programs, in the halls of Ivy 
League institutions, in corporate boardrooms and courtrooms, and within 
increasing numbers of state and local legislative assemblies. Twenty 
four local municipalities across this country and three states have 
adopted legislation supporting the concept of reparations and/or the 
passage of H.R. 40.
  On the auspicious occasion of the National Coalition of Blacks for 
Reparations in America's first Gala Reparations Banquet, June 17, 2004, 
I recognize the work of the many organizations actively engaged in 
making H.R. 40 a reality, and I hereby pay tribute to the following 
state and local champions of justice who have introduced reparations-
related legislation in their respective jurisdictions:
  California Legislature: Mr. Kevin Murray, Florida Legislature, 
Louisiana House of Representatives: Mr. Raymond Jetson; Mr. Melvin 
``Kip'' Holden; Mr. Joseph Delpit, Maryland (pending): Mr. Nathaniel 
Exum, New York Legislature (pending): Mr. Roger Green, Texas 
Legislature (pending), Alameda County, California: Mr. Keith Carson, 
Berkeley, California: Ms. Maudelle Shirek, Compton, California: Ms. 
Yvonne Arceneaux, Foster City, California: Ms. Marie Davis, Inglewood 
California: Mr. Daniel Tabor, Los Angeles, California: Mr. Mark Ridley-
Thomas, Mr. Nate Holden, Oakland, California: Mr. Larry Reid, East Palo 
Alto, California: Mr. Omowale Satterwhite.
  San Francisco, California, District of Columbia: Mrs. Wilhelmina 
Rolark, 1991, Atlanta, Georgia: Mr. Clarence T. Martin, Ms. ``Able'' 
Mabel Thomas, Chicago, Illinois: Alderman Dorothy Tillman, 2000, 
Evanston, Illinois, Baltimore, Maryland: Ms. Bea Gaddy, 2000, Detroit, 
Michigan, Jackson, Mississippi: Mr. Terry Kennedy, St. Louis, Missouri: 
Mr. Terry Kennedy, 1999, Camden, New Jersey, Passaic County, New 
Jersey: Ms. Marilee Jackson, 2002, Paterson, New Jersey: Ms. Georgia 
Scott, 2001, Newark, New Jersey, Cleveland, Ohio: Ms. Fannie Lewis, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Mr. Michael Nutter, Dallas, Texas: Mr. John 
Wiley; Mr. Al Lipscomb, Ft. Worth, Texas: Mr. Frank Moss, Burlington, 
Vermont: Mr. Richard T. Kemp.

                          ____________________