[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 27]
[House]
[Pages 35986-35994]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO THE LATE CONGRESSWOMAN JULIA CARSON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 18, 2007, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) is recognized 
for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, 1st Samuel, chapter 20, verse 18, 
reads as follows: ``Then Jonathan said to David, tomorrow is the New 
Moon Festival. You will be missed because your seat will be empty.''
  Tonight, the Congressional Black Caucus and the Indiana delegation 
pause to celebrate the life of a great woman whose seat now stands 
empty here in the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Julia Carson.
  Congresswoman Carson passed away this past Saturday after a long bout 
with lung cancer. And while her seat is empty, her spirit lives on in 
our hearts. She was unique. She often reminded me of the elders in my 
family. They are strong in their convictions and don't pull any punches 
when making their point; yet they have a witty and humorous way about 
them that can disarm even their most ardent opponent. That was 
Congresswoman Julia Carson.
  Even though she was in her last illness, she did not let that stop 
her from advocating on behalf of her constituents. And she never 
complained. She always greeted you with a warm smile and that 
unmistakable humor which always made you feel good.
  She was a trailblazer, born in poverty and racial segregation to a 
teenage single mother. She came through the political ranks to become 
the first African American and woman elected to Congress from 
Indianapolis. A strong advocate for her constituents, she was not 
afraid to take a stand, be it popular or unpopular.
  Madam Speaker, I will include for the Record an article that was in 
today's Roll Call that was written by her

[[Page 35987]]

predecessor Andy Jacobs as a guest observer and was entitled 
``Remembering Congress' Jewel Named Julia.'' It is a wonderful article. 
I won't go through it because we have a lot of people here who want to 
speak about their remembrances of our wonderful colleague Julia Carson.

                    [From Roll Call, Dec. 18, 2007]

                Remembering Congress' Jewel Named Julia

                         (By Andy Jacobs, Jr.)

       ``Look where he came from and look where he went; and 
     wasn't he a kind of tough struggler all his life right up to 
     the finish?'' The words are those of Carl Sandburg in praise 
     of Abraham Lincoln. The same praise could and should be said 
     of our sister, the late Rep. Julia Carson (D-Ind.), who has 
     passed beyond the sound of our voices into the sunset of her 
     temporal life and into a dawn of history.
       Where did she come from? Same place as Lincoln--Kentucky. 
     And like him, she was born both to physical poverty and 
     spiritual wealth, and moved to Indiana.
       Another similarity: Julia also had an ``angel mother,'' 
     Velma Porter, who put a lot of physical, mental and spiritual 
     nutrients into the little flowerpot of her only child.
       Fast-forward to a month after my first and improbable 
     election to Congress. I was told by mutual friends that at 
     the Chrysler UAW office, I could find a remarkable woman to 
     join me as a co-worker in my Washington Congressional office. 
     Remarkable? Understatement. Thus began my 47-year friendship 
     and, eventually virtual sibling-ship with the already 
     honorable Julia Carson, one of the most intelligent, ethical, 
     industrious and compassionate people I have ever known.
       Check out her first Congressional brainstorm. It started a 
     national trend. Why make constituents in need of 
     Congressional assistance with bureaucratic problems travel 
     all the way to D.C. to get it? Why not take that part of the 
     office to them? So we adopted her suggestion and did out 
     ``case work'' in Indianapolis with Julia at the helm. It set 
     an example that has been followed by other Congressional 
     offices all over the country ever since. OK, there was one 
     other factor. She had two little kids she preferred to rear 
     in Indianapolis, doing well by her kids by doing good for her 
     country.
       Later, my refusal to bring home a particularly pernicious 
     piece of political pork earned me a severe gerrymander that, 
     together with the Nixon landslide, ejected me from Congress. 
     Nothing is all bad; the beneficiary of the gerrymander was my 
     much-admired friend, Bill Hudnut (R). That was the year I had 
     to talk Julia into running for the state House of 
     Representatives. She thought it would be disloyal to our 
     friendship because it would take her away from my campaign, 
     which was a campaign of futility that year.
       She was elected to the state House, where she served with 
     distinction and, in time, she became a state Senator, again 
     gaining friends and admirers on both sides of the aisle.
       Still later, she became the Center Township trustee and 
     produced real ``welfare reform,'' not with ignorant 
     histrionic speeches and braggadocio, but with hard, quiet and 
     meticulous work. It was reform that broke no poor child's 
     heart, nor sent such a child to bed hungry. She not only 
     ferreted out welfare cheats, but also sued them and got the 
     money back for the taxpayers. Her reform wiped out a long-
     standing multimillion-dollar debt, moving the then-Marion 
     County Republican auditor to say, ``She wrestled the monster 
     to the ground.''
       Julia was unique in that she was the only human being ever 
     to be named Woman of the Year by The Indianapolis Star on two 
     different occasions.
       It was common parlance to say, ``Congresswoman Carson's 
     people,'' a reference to poor black constituents. Rubbish. 
     The 7th district is about 70 percent nonblack and ``her 
     people'' were all the people of the 7th, regardless of 
     physical or economic description. Millionaires can be treated 
     unjustly by the federal government just as middle- and low-
     income citizens can. And wherever there was injustice, this 
     Lincoln-like lady was there to redress it. Her political 
     philosophy was a plank from the Sermon on the Mount: 
     ``Blessed are they who thirst for justice.''
       There's another one: ``Blessed are the peacemakers.'' She 
     cast our vote against the conspicuously unconstitutional 
     resolution that gave the Cheney gang a fig leaf to order our 
     innocent military to the fraudulent and internationally 
     illegal blood-soaked blunder in Iraq.
       Julia called me just before she cast that vote and said 
     that, in view of the dishonesty, panic and jingoism of the 
     moment, she expected to lose the next election. ``Courage,'' 
     my mother said, ``is fear that has said its prayers.''
       Our Julia, who art in Heaven.

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I am going to begin with the dean of the Indiana 
delegation, Representative Dan Burton.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding, and I want to thank the Black Caucus for taking this Special 
Order tonight. Julia Carson was a friend of mine and a friend of Steve 
Buyer. We traveled back and forth on the plane from Indianapolis to 
Washington on a regular basis and we got to know each other.
  Julia was a wonderful person, very highly regarded by the people of 
Indianapolis. In fact, she is the only woman in the history of the city 
who was recognized as Woman of the Year by the Indianapolis Star twice. 
That honor came to her by readers of the paper voting for her. That was 
quite an honor, an honor that has not been bestowed upon any other 
woman in the city's history.
  The thing I really liked about Julia was that even though she was a 
Democrat and I was a Republican, we worked together on a lot of issues 
that were very important to central Indiana and the City of 
Indianapolis.
  I remember one case in particular that dealt with the Children's 
Museum. I talked to Julia about it, and she took the bull by the horns 
and worked very hard to make sure that the problems that we had with 
the Children's Museum were resolved, and I really admired her for that.
  Her predecessor and her buddy, Andy Jacobs, to whom you just referred 
in that article, really loved her like a sister. Andy served here for, 
I think, 28 or 30 years, and he is a very dear friend of mine, and Andy 
has told me on a number of occasions the great contributions that Julia 
made to him and his staff when she worked for him before she became a 
Congresswoman.
  She was a State representative. When Andy was defeated in 1972, he 
urged her to run for the Indiana House of Representatives, and she did. 
She was elected, and then she was later elected to the Indiana State 
Senate. Then she ran for the Center Township Trustee's job in 
Indianapolis and was elected to that.
  The thing I talked about yesterday when we were acknowledging Julia 
that I didn't know much about until just recently was that when she 
took over the Center Township Trustee's job, it was in a chaotic 
situation. And she was able to take care of the needs of the people of 
Indianapolis that really needed help and at the same time to reduce the 
budget of the Trustee's office, and that was something that I think all 
of us, Republican or Democrat, really can admire.
  She was a very fine Congresswoman. She was a very fine person. She 
always had a smile for everybody, and I really appreciated knowing her. 
She shall be missed. I think that she is probably in heaven looking 
down on us right now.
  Julia, you did a good job.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I now yield to my colleague and 
good friend, the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman 
Kilpatrick. And I had an opportunity to visit with Congresswoman Carson 
a couple of weeks before her passing. It was a wonderful chance. I 
yield to our Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Carolyn Cheeks 
Kilpatrick.

                              {time}  1845

  Ms. KILPATRICK. Madam Speaker, Members of the House of 
Representatives, and people across this great Nation of ours, we have 
lost a jewel in Julia Carson.
  I met the Congresswoman some 30 years ago, and she from the 
legislature in Indiana and I from the legislature in Michigan served 18 
years together in those legislative bodies, and then came here together 
in 1997 to begin our tenure in the United States House of 
Representatives, she from Indiana, me from Michigan.
  We both got assigned to the Financial Services Committee our first 
term, she from Indiana and I from Michigan. And together, during this 
10 years of journey, we have worked together in this House of 
Representatives. Courageous, bold, smart, intelligent, compassionate. 
All those things that you want in a public servant, Julia Carson was 
that.
  To the people of Indianapolis, the State of Indiana, you have lost a 
jewel. And all that we ask in this body of 435 of the most powerful 
people in the world, as well as the 100 most powerful people in the 
Senate, is that you send us another Julia Carson: intelligent, bold, 
compassionate, a coordinator, one

[[Page 35988]]

who speaks for the people that she represents.
  Ms. Carson and I have had many battles and many struggles together. 
As was mentioned earlier by our chairperson of our Ethics Committee who 
is handling this Special Order tonight, she and I were in Indiana in 
her room with her 2 weeks ago. She looked beautiful. Her skin was 
radiant. Her heart was strong. And she said to us, thank you. Thank you 
to us as her sisters, and thank you to the people of Indiana who have 
been with her for over 30 years.
  It is important that we come together tonight as members of the 
Congressional Black Caucus as well as members of the Indiana caucus, 
because we know she lives. We know she is in these walls and looking 
upon us now. What are you doing, girl? What are you all talking about? 
Thank you, Julia. We love you, my sister.
  And as we continue in our journey today, let's take a little bit of 
Congresswoman Julia Carson with us, dedicated, compassionate, take no 
prisoners, speak for the least of these. Thank you, my sister. And may 
you rest in peace.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. At this time, I yield to Representative Peter 
Visclosky, who is the dean of the Democrat delegation of Indiana.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, my good friend 
from Ohio, to honor Julia Carson and her life of work to the people she 
represented in her district, to the people of Indiana, and this 
country.
  Yesterday on this floor, I talked about the light that Julia cast 
upon all of us, whether it was the twinkle in her eye or her burning 
desire to make the world a better place. This evening, I would like to 
talk about the strength of her character.
  Julia, when she was a young child, had a stuttering problem; but it 
was corrected and she was not deterred. As a 12-year-old, her mother, 
who scrubbed floors and took care of families and didn't get paid if 
she was sick, became ill; and at some point, the money had run out. 
Julia went to the trustee's office to seek help, and, ultimately, 
cornmeal and lard were pushed across the counter to her.
  When Julia was 4 years old, for the only time in her life, she met 
her father. Her father promised that he was going to be a constant 
figure in her life. He gave her $5, and he was never seen again. Her 
mother remarried to someone who used to beat her. And often her mother 
could not come to her school events because he was someplace taking 
care of someone else's children. And she certainly, being a product of 
that time and that place, was subject to racism.
  In an article she wrote in March of 1996, when she was running for 
Congress, entitled ``My Neighbor as Myself,'' she related one of those 
instances. And I think it really summed up Julia, who could be very 
tough but also have a gentle touch. She wrote:
  ``Another more amusing experience with racial stereotyping occurred 
when I worked with Congressman Andy Jacobs. One particular woman called 
our office quite often to complain about a wide variety of problems. I 
tried to be patient with her.
  ``I never realized that my many conversations with this woman had all 
occurred on the telephone until one day when she called, quite 
agitated, to inform me that a horrible thing had happened: a black 
family had moved in next door to her.
  ``It took me a minute to overcome my surprise, as she simply assumed 
that this competent public servant had to be white. However, after 
thinking about a wide assortment of possible responses, I simply 
replied, `It is okay, honey. Just give it a chance. I have black 
families living all over my neighborhood, and it has turned out all 
right.''' And you could just see Julia saying that.
  In the end, many people would be embittered by experiences like that, 
but Julia was not. And as Andy Jacobs, her very dear friend, wrote: 
From the physical pain of material poverty and the mindless cruel 
persecution of racism, Julia Carson made her choice, a choice of hard 
work, compassion, and a pleasing sense of humor. And heaven smiled.
  And I know heaven is smiling on Julia tonight.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. At this time, I yield to the Chair of the 
Financial Services Committee, Barney Frank, who is the Chair of the 
committee that Julia served upon.
  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. I thank my friend from Ohio and the other 
friends who have gathered to, really, mourn our own loss.
  I served on the Financial Services Committee with Julia Carson. And 
let's be honest, there are Members of this body who, if you get to see 
them coming before they see you, you may not have a long conversation. 
But I sought Julia's company. She was a dedicated fighter for social 
justice, but she was also a delightful woman.
  She had that kind of air she put on of, ``Oh, poor me.'' I feel sorry 
for anybody who fell for it. She had a brilliant mind, a wonderful 
sense of strategy, and, as I said, she put all that at the service of 
caring for poor people. As a member of the Financial Services 
Committee, she was a constant unyielding advocate for fairness in our 
society.
  And I do also want to note, a number of people have mentioned my 
former colleague, many of us served with him, Andy Jacobs. Andy was the 
Congressman from that district. He retired. And rarely has any 
politician fought as hard for another politician as Andy Jacobs did to 
elect Julia Carson. And to the minds of many, Julia wasn't a natural 
fit. People thought that she was not conservative enough for the 
district, not, let's be honest, white enough for the district. And race 
continues to be the besetting problem of America. We have made some 
progress in it. We haven't solved it.
  Andy Jacobs' dedication to helping to elect Julia, and, obviously, 
she got there on her own, But Andy's helping run interference as Julia 
carried that ball really was one of the great acts of statesmanship, 
and then Julia made the most of the opportunity.
  I had the pleasure of going out to her district a couple of times 
because there was this sense on the part of some that a woman like 
Julia Carson, with her background and her set of values, couldn't 
possibly represent Indianapolis. Somehow they thought that something 
had gone wrong. But the people knew better, and the people stood by 
her. And they stood by her because she was, as I said, as staunch a 
fighter for making this the kind of America we all want to live in as I 
ever saw.
  I miss her a great deal. I miss coming into the committee and seeing 
her pretending to look kind or angry and sad, with a twinkle in her eye 
ready for that comment that was going to put everything in perspective. 
Julia Carson was a wonderful Member of this body. And the dignity with 
which she bore her last months of pain troubled all of us, but it was a 
fitting example of the extraordinary quality of a great woman.
  I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio and others for giving us this 
chance to express our appreciation for having had the benefit of her 
colleagueship for a while.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I yield time now to Mr. Buyer, a member of the 
Indiana delegation.
  Mr. BUYER. I thank the gentlelady for yielding.
  I have to agree with my friend and colleague, Barney Frank. We 
watched someone of great strength suffer from the cruelness of cancer. 
And it was really hard to watch Julia.
  This is an individual that I spent more time in the airport with than 
ever here in Congress. And those of us who fly back and forth, we know 
what that is like. For 11 years in the Indianapolis airport is really 
where I spent most of my time with Julia Carson. She and I shared a 
subcommittee leadership on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, but that 
doesn't even come close to the times in the Indianapolis airport.
  I would rather remember the lady that I first met. Julia Carson is an 
individual that, no, this is a lady that wore a big hat, with a witty 
personality, with a great smile, and a big heart.
  And I also pity the individual that fell for any of her, oh, shucky 
darns

[[Page 35989]]

wit, I just don't understand; can you help explain it to me? Because 
you lost if you believed any of that.
  She suckered me in pretty good when it came to the support of the 
Midfield terminal with the Indianapolis airport. She had just got on 
the Transportation Committee. She understood the need for 
infrastructure for a city like Indianapolis and, gee, she wanted some 
of my help. And before I realized it, I am carrying the water heater, 
getting the letter, getting the support from all of the Indiana 
delegation, and said, oh, it would be okay if you go down and talk to 
the FAA. I mean, she was steering me the whole time. But I didn't mind. 
It was for the betterment of Indianapolis and Indiana. But don't let 
anybody fool you who was really controlling the strings here. It was 
Julia.
  And what a great lady. A great lady, because this Hoosier treated 
kindness like grain. She understood that, if she sows it, kindness will 
only increase. And I think she used that in her life. She used a 
kindness to go after her political enemies. She used that big smile and 
kindness to achieve great things. And it was also an enduring quality 
about her. And that is what I want to remember Julia most by.
  I have to end with this, because she loved her Indianapolis Colts. 
When it came to the redistricting in Indiana, and we all know what 
redistricting is like: sometimes maps and the lines can go down the 
alleyways and sidewalks almost. But she made sure that her district, 
that etched in and it took the headquarters of the Indianapolis Colts 
and the training facility because she wanted her boys, as she told me. 
I said, Julia, I have got most of this territory all surrounded, and 
you went deep down the road and etched out and took them out. And she 
smiled and she said, Those are my boys. And she loved her Indianapolis 
Colts, and I am glad that she got to see the Colts have that Super Bowl 
on her watch, because it only made her smile even that much greater and 
that much bigger. And that is the Julia Carson that I remember and 
loved.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I want to comment as well that I want to remember 
Julia Carson because she was a fantastic dresser. She was always 
immaculately dressed, all kinds of wonderful outfits. And I always 
think about how great she used to look as she came on the floor.
  At this time, I yield time to my colleague and good friend from the 
great State of North Carolina, a former Chair of the Congressional 
Black Caucus, Mel Watt.
  Mr. WATT. Let me, first of all, thank the gentlelady for convening 
this Special Order in memory of our dear friend and colleague, Julia 
Carson.
  If you didn't know Julia Carson, you probably would think she was a 
study in contradictions. That is kind of always the way I felt about 
her. She was this person that, from the very beginning when she came to 
Congress, which was the first time I met her, appeared to be a very 
fragile person. You would see her on the floor and she didn't appear to 
be well; and yet you would go on a trip to South Africa, and there she 
would be out among the children meeting with them and undertaking the 
rigors of an international trip that you knew was an imposition 
physically on the most physically fit Member of Congress.

                              {time}  1900

  You would see her and talk to her and her voice would be so mild and 
gentle, and yet when she undertook an issue, it was just like a 
metamorphosis because she was so articulate and passionate about that 
issue. And you would see her and she would look at you sternly and make 
a quip, and you would walk away thinking it was kind of a 
straightforward statement. And then all of a sudden it would dawn on 
you she had zinged you without you even being aware of a subtle point 
that she had made.
  There were these contradictions there that I loved about Julia 
Carson. Once you got to know her, sometimes she would game you, as 
Barney Frank has indicated. She would appear unsophisticated 
politically, and then all of a sudden she would pull one of the most 
important political maneuvers, like the tribute to Rosa Parks that took 
such delicate balancing to pull the elements together. This was a 
woman, a lady of contradictions, apparent contradictions, yet once you 
got to know Julia Carson, you knew there was one person there who was 
just steady as a rock. She was solid. We loved her and we express our 
sincere condolences to her family.
  With that I know there are many who wish to speak, so I yield back.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
Pence).
  Mr. PENCE. I thank the gentlewoman for calling this Special Order, 
and I am very humbled to be able to stand on behalf of the people of 
eastern Indiana and express my deepest sympathies to the family and 
colleagues of my friend, the late Julia Carson.
  The Bible tells us to mourn with those who mourn and to grieve with 
those who grieve. Tonight on the floor of Congress, we gather to do 
just that. To mourn with the many tens of thousands of grateful 
constituents who are remembering Julia Carson this week and who owe a 
debt of gratitude to her for 30 years of service to the people of 
Indianapolis that they know in their hearts they will never be able to 
repay.
  I grieve the passing of Julia Carson for a variety of reasons. First, 
for her service. She will be remembered as a pioneering leader in the 
State of Indiana. As the first woman and the first African American 
elected to Congress from Indianapolis, she will be long remembered in 
Indiana public life.
  I will remember her throughout my own years in politics in trying to 
get into politics, seeming to see her contribute first as a State 
legislator, then as a legendary Center Township Trustee in 
Indianapolis, and later elected to the United States Congress. She was, 
and I say with affection, a fierce political competitor and succeeded 
at everything she tried to do, in politics and public service.
  The gentle demeanor that we are remembering tonight belied a freight 
train of effectiveness that was Julia Carson. And I experienced that 
effectiveness, usually on the losing side of an argument. But what I 
would always find in Julia Carson is, while she was a fierce advocate 
here on the floor of the Congress for what she understood to be the 
needs of her district and the obligations of the law and of justice, 
that walking back to our offices after the fact, I would never fail to 
be moved by her gentleness and her kindness and her decency, which 
leads me to the other piece of Julia that I will always treasure, and 
that was her profound Christian faith.
  I must tell you as a cheerful conservative Republican elected to 
Congress having observed her career from afar, I would have told anyone 
in Indiana that the last person I expected to be friends with in 
Congress was Julia Carson. She was tough. She was effective. She was 
liberal. But when I arrived in Congress as a new freshman, she reached 
out to me, and she reached out to me on the basis of our shared 
Christian faith. And it was on that foundation that we built a 
friendship.
  And we, on occasion, found ways to work together. Working with her to 
pass legislation authored by another colleague in the Chamber today, 
the Second Chance Act, it would be Julia Carson that would appeal to 
this House conservative about the needs of breaking the cycle of 
recidivism and crime that beset so many families in the underserved 
community, but it would be her heart on that matter that would reach me 
with the wisdom of the Second Chance Act. And part of her legacy here 
today will be the success that we have seen that legislation experience 
this year and, I trust, in the future.
  Every time I would ask her in her infirmity in the last year and a 
half how she was doing, I don't know how she would answer the rest of 
the Members here, Madam Speaker, but whenever I would quietly say, 
``Julia, really, how are you doing?'' she would smile in that infirmity 
and say, ``I am blessed by the best.'' No complaints, no grumbling. 
``Blessed by the best'' will be her legacy in my heart. To know that as 
I have the privilege of serving here, whatever the condition in which I

[[Page 35990]]

serve, I will understand He who placed me here.
  I think of that great verse. I don't know what the pastor will say at 
Eastern Star Saturday. My wife Karen and I will be there, as I know 
most of this Chamber would wish to be there at her funeral. I don't 
know what the pastor of that great church will say, but when I think of 
Julia Carson, I think of that mandate that we are called to do justice, 
love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.
  The Julia Carson I remember tonight and will always remember 
throughout my years in public service did justice as she understood it. 
She loved kindness even to those with whom she differed, and every day 
she was here, she walked humbly in the service of the people of 
Indiana. For that, we, as a State and as a Nation, will be eternally 
grateful.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. At this time it gives me pleasure to yield to my 
colleague and good friend from California, Barbara Lee.
  Ms. LEE. I thank the gentlelady for yielding and for calling this 
Special Order to recognize and honor the extraordinary life of our dear 
friend and colleague Julia May Carson.
  First, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to her family and 
her constituents of Indiana's Seventh Congressional District, to her 
friends and to her staff here in Washington, DC, and in Indiana. For 
over 35 years, Congresswoman Carson championed the rights of the 
underprivileged, the underrepresented and the overlooked. We came to 
depend on her determined leadership and commitment throughout her 
tenure in Congress. So a true voice for the voiceless was taken from us 
on December 15.
  We shared many conversations about our common interests. We 
frequently talked about the fact that we both shared the same 
astrological sign. We are both Cancers. Julia's birthday was July 8. 
Mine is July 16. Julia Carson was fiercely loyal and patriotic, and 
that supposedly is a typical characteristic of Cancers. She exemplified 
those values, though, in many, many ways. Her loyalty and her 
patriotism was what undergirded and served as the foundation for her 
career in public service.
  In coming to the House floor to vote, I would pass by her office. 
Oftentimes, I would walk with Julia. We would share many conversations. 
But even to this day I noticed, and I would like for you to look at the 
plaque outside her door, she has the pictures of at least 45 of 
Indiana's fallen men and women who have served this country. She kept 
their pictures in her office. She loved the troops. She loved her 
district and our young men and women.
  She was a woman of courage. Congresswoman Carson was an adamant 
opponent of the Iraq war, and we talked about this a lot, even though 
it could pose political risks, but she let her conscience be her guide.
  I witnessed her passion for justice when I served with her on the 
Housing Subcommittee with Congresswoman Waters, her passion for the 
homelessness and seeking housing for homeless public recipients. What a 
woman.
  Very recently, even with her debilitating illness, several months ago 
she came to me and asked me to help her. We were putting this together, 
to put together another visit to South Africa. She wanted to lead a 
codel. And of course her health would not allow for this exhausting 
trip, but I will always remember up until a couple of months ago her 
optimism and determination to go back to South Africa. She wouldn't 
take ``no'' for an answer.
  We are going to miss Congresswoman Carson tremendously. I am reminded 
of the scriptures, Timothy 4, Chapter 7: I have fought the good fight. 
I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
  Madam Speaker, Congresswoman Julia Carson fought hard. She fought 
hard for peace and justice all of her life, and she completed her work 
on this Earth, but it is up to us to pick up that baton and to move it 
forward in her memory.
  And she remained faithful. She remained faithful to the end to her 
family, her friends, her constituents, her country, and most 
importantly to her God. May her soul rest in peace.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis).
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman 
from Ohio for yielding, and I am pleased to join with my colleagues as 
we pay tribute to Representative Julia Carson.
  Julia and I were elected at the same time and soon discovered that we 
knew many of the same people because a large number of individuals from 
the town where I grew up migrated to Indianapolis and became very much 
involved in the affairs of the city.
  We also discovered that Julia and my cousin were good friends because 
they were the longest serving African Americans elected in Indiana. 
They both had been trustees for a long time, Julia in Indianapolis and 
Dozier Allen in Gary.
  But Julia and I worked together on something called responsible 
fatherhood legislation that we had been working with Senator Evan Bayh 
from Indiana and Senator Barack Obama from Illinois. We introduced that 
legislation and actually planned to give it a real push in 2008. If we 
are able to really move it, I would like to see us actually name it the 
Julia Carson Responsible Fatherhood Act.

                              {time}  1915

  And so it's been a pleasure working with Julia.
  She actually would drive. Well, she wouldn't always drive herself, 
but sometimes she would, from Indianapolis to Chicago. We had a hearing 
at the Federal Reserve Bank, and I get there downtown Chicago, there's 
Julia in her van, coming to testify. And all of us knew that she'd been 
ill. All of us knew the difficulty that she had. And I said, Julia, how 
did you get here? She said, Ain't nothing but a little sport.
  And so Julia, we're going to miss you. You were a brave soul, had a 
great heart. Julia is a legend in Indianapolis. I mean, those of us who 
know her here, we know her in a sense. But in Indianapolis, she's an 
absolute legend.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Carol and I will remember that Julia kept saying 
to us, look out for Andre. She loved her son and daughter, but she 
loved that grandson, Andre Carson.
  It gives me great pleasure at this time to yield time to Joe 
Donnelly, a member of the Indiana delegation.
  Mr. DONNELLY. It is interesting you mention Andre, because I was at 
Julia's house just about a week or two ago where they had a vigil in 
Indianapolis while Julia was so sick, and Andre was outside. And the 
amazing thing was it was a spontaneous vigil that had started 
approximately 3 in the afternoon on a Friday. And in a matter of just a 
few hours, we all congregated at her house at approximately 6:30. And 
so I headed on over there, and it was spectacular, to say the least. 
There were police cars everywhere, and what they were trying to do was 
control the huge crowd that had come to Julia's house to testify for 
her and to pray for her and to show her how much they loved her.
  And at that time, Julia was so ill that she was not able to come 
outside the house. But she had friends and relatives come out and say 
Julia isn't able to come out and speak for herself, but she told us to 
tell you how much she loved you. And the best part of the crowd was 
that it wasn't the captains of industry. It wasn't all the famous 
politicians over the years from Indiana. It was the regular, everyday 
folks who came out to show her how much they appreciated her hard work 
over the years; that every time they needed a champion, Julia Carson 
was there for them. And when you needed a friend, and Julia Carson 
stood up for you, you had no stronger champion.
  I remember, I'm from the South Bend area, and I called to Julia in a 
very, very tough congressional race that nobody thought could be won 
and said, could you come up and help me? And she said, Son, I'll be on 
my way. And when she came up, the crowds came out. And I remember we 
have a railway system there that's critical to our infrastructure. And 
Julia was able to get so much of the funding for it. And she wanted to 
take a ride. And the press was out there, and she was still ill at

[[Page 35991]]

that time. And the train was supposed to leave at 8 in the morning. And 
about five of 8, no Julia, about 8, still no Julia. Her chief of staff 
is standing there very, very nervously, and he said, she'll be here 
very soon. And the conductor said, well, we have to go. And I turned to 
the conductor and I said, my guess is you'd be better off waiting. And 
about 8:15, Julia came, and it was like the queen of Indiana had 
arrived and everybody cheering and saying hello. And she leaned over to 
me with a big smile and said, I love trains and I'm looking forward to 
going for this ride. And it was that spirit of warmth and enjoyment.
  I followed her one time at an event where everybody had 5 minutes to 
speak. And I followed Julia Carson. And telling Julia Carson she had 5 
minutes to speak was like waving a red flag in front of a bull. So 
Julia spoke for 41 minutes. And then she looked over at me and said, 
Sorry about that. And the gentleman in charge of the event looked at me 
and said, Your 5 minutes is now 1\1/2\ minutes. And I got up, and the 
only thing I could say is, How do you follow someone who has spoken so 
eloquently and said so much?
  We will miss her in an extraordinary way. She had a wonderful staff, 
people truly devoted to her. But more than anything, she was devoted to 
her beloved city of Indianapolis, and they repaid that love to her with 
their care and affection and devotion.
  And one other thing, politically, I don't think she ever lost a race. 
Can you imagine that? Time after time after time, they underestimated 
Ms. Carson, and Ms. Carson always came out on top.
  It was an extraordinary privilege to know her and, at the end, to see 
the dignity of her suffering. I know they said of Pope John Paul II, 
they said, some of his finest moments was the dignity he showed in the 
suffering he went through. And we all saw it here at the House of 
Representatives, how hard she tried, how hard she struggled because she 
wanted to keep working hard for her beloved city. And it may well have 
been her most dignified, her most powerful moments were the struggles 
she went through at the end.
  So to Julia, we love you. We miss you, and I look forward to seeing 
you on Friday.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. At this time I'd like to yield to the majority 
leader, Steny Hoyer of Maryland.
  Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentlelady for yielding. I met Andy Jacobs in 
the Young Democrats, many, many years ago. I drove Andy Jacobs to a 
speaking engagement at the Young Democrats at a restaurant not too far 
from the Baltimore Washington International Airport. A few years later 
I was elected to Congress, and Andy Jacobs was a Member of the Congress 
of the United States, a member of the Ways and Means Committee, an 
extraordinary Member of this House. And there came a time shortly 
thereafter when Andy decided to retire. And there were a number of 
people who expressed an interest in running for this seat. Andy came to 
me and he said Julia Carson's going to win this race. You be for Julia 
Carson.
  Our beloved colleague, Joe Donnelly has just said, she never lost a 
race.
  Now, I didn't know Julia Carson. And there were some pretty active 
people, men and women, in that race; and we had met a couple of them. 
They were pretty impressive. I had not met Julia Carson. But Andy 
Jacobs, her predecessor, a Congressman for some 25 years, at least, 
said to me, Julia Carson's going to win this race. And sure enough, 
Julia Carson won the race. And those of us who served in this body had 
the privilege of getting to know Julia Carson, getting to know her as a 
friend, getting to know her as a colleague, getting to know her as a 
leader in her community.
  I went to Indianapolis. I see my friend, my very, very close and dear 
friend Baron Hill here. Baron and I have been in Indianapolis a number 
of times, and I did a number of fund-raisers in Indianapolis for and 
with Julia. And then in the last campaign I went out to Indianapolis to 
be with Julia and we were at a senior citizens center, and it was the 
essence of Julia Carson. Julia Carson, who was sort of one of the most, 
``acerbic'' is not the right word, I've been searching for the right 
word, but Julia could be very direct. And there was no fooling around. 
You knew where Julia stood and you knew what she was thinking. She 
didn't have time for just jiving. She knew what she wanted to say, she 
knew what she wanted to do and she told you.
  And I went to the senior center, and I spoke on her behalf. But so 
many people were speaking on her behalf. It was thought to be a tough 
campaign. She won better than she was expected to win. But you got the 
essence of Julia Carson as you went around and talked to those seniors 
who had been active in the community for many, many years, as Julia had 
been, who worked herself up to be a Member of Congress, but she was not 
appointed by anybody.
  The community loved Julia Carson. And when I say the community, the 
community writ large, not the African American community, the white 
community, this community or that. The community, writ large, loved 
Julia Carson because she was honest, she was direct, she cared and she 
worked hard for her people. Julia Carson was an asset to her district, 
to Indianapolis, to Indiana, to this institution, the House of 
Representatives, and to our country.
  Julia Carson is now back home in Indiana. We'll miss her. But this 
body was better for her service. And I thank the gentlelady for giving 
me this brief time to pay honor to a great woman and a great American.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. At this time I'd like to yield time to my 
colleague and good friend from California, Diane Watson.
  Ms. WATSON. I'd like to thank Stephanie Tubbs Jones for providing 
this opportunity for us to remember someone that I considered a dear 
friend before I came to the House. I met Julia in the 70s, and we 
bonded together because we were active in the National Conference of 
State Legislators, the Black Caucus. We were the two women in the 
Senate. And once you meet Julia, you never forget her. She had that 
kind of impact on you.
  And I remember her sitting up in the back with her head hanging very 
low. And she looked up and she saw, you know, I'd say, how are you 
feeling Julia, and she'd say, oh, great. Well, you knew she wasn't 
feeling great.
  But she said, you know, I want to go on a codel. So I'm taking my own 
codel because no one here will take me with them. That was Julia.
  And then I remember going out and she was standing against one of the 
pillars outside and hardly able to stand. I said, well, Julia, let me 
stand with you. She said, no, I'm holding on. My staff is coming after 
me. She was the can-do-it person. And regardless how bad the time was, 
she never let you know.
  She was the second one that went out with dignity and class and 
grace. And I knew that the time would not be long, because I called her 
office and I talked to her chief of staff; and when he said he was 
sitting at her bedside, I knew then that she wouldn't be back.
  And I saw Julia, like all of you did, as a leader, a crusader, a 
humanist. She understood racism and oppression, but she was never 
deterred by it. It only made her more of a leader, more of a crusader 
and more humanistic.
  As a former Congressman, Andy Jacobs relates in Julia's official 
biography, and I quote the Congressman: ``The only thing some people 
learn from oppression is hatred and revenge. Others learn compassion 
and empathy. From the physical pain of material poverty and the 
mindlessly cruel persecution of knee jerk racism, Julia Carson made her 
choice to be hard work, compassion and an engulfing sense of humor.'' 
It is therefore fitting that in 1996, Julia Carson took on the task of 
seeking the Congressional Gold Medal for another pioneer in the 
struggle for human rights, Rosa Parks.

                              {time}  1930

  It took nearly 3 years, but Julia did not go and she did not falter. 
In June of 1999, President Clinton signed into law Congresswoman Julia 
Carson's bill to authorize the Congressional Gold Medal for Rosa Parks, 
and we all came to be part of that experience.

[[Page 35992]]

  Julia Carson, who could rightfully take her place in the company of 
Rosa Parks, was a woman of firsts. She was one of the first women of 
color to run for countywide office and then Statewide office. She was 
the first African American to represent Indianapolis in the United 
States Congress.
  So I salute this incredible life of service that Julia gave to her 
city, her State and her country. She is a testament to a person who 
overcame many odds, who persevered and left a legacy on which others 
may proudly build.
  Rest well, Julia. We know you're here, but we'll still miss you. God 
bless.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure at this 
time to yield time to the Speaker of the House, the gentlelady from 
California, Nancy Pelosi.
  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I thank very much my colleague and thank 
you for calling us together so that we can express our sympathy to the 
family of Julia Carson, to her constituents whom she loved and worked 
so hard for, and to our colleagues from Indiana; Mr. Visclosky, Mr. 
Hill and Mr. Donnelly and Mr. Ellsworth, who are here, this great 
distinguished delegation from Indiana with the crown jewel, Julia 
Carson, as one of the senior members of the delegation.
  Thank you so much. I know you are among those who were the last, 
certainly from Congress, to visit with Congresswoman Carson and 
conveyed back to us her usual good cheer and dignity and demeanor, and 
that is how she was.
  And so that it's very sad to convey to her grandson Andre Carson on 
behalf of all of the Members of the House of Representatives the deep 
sadness that we have over their suffering.
  Members have talked about her in Congress and the kind of person that 
she was, and I remember visiting her on a number of occasions in 
Indianapolis, and what was a joy to behold was the esteem in which she 
was held by all of the people there, whether we were walking down the 
street or talking to police officers there. Wherever it was we went to 
events that she had, relating to health care, relating to the issues 
that concerned America's working families, people just worshipped Julia 
Carson. I never saw anything like it. I never saw anything like it.
  She came to Congress, as has been mentioned, after decades of 
distinguished service to the State of Indiana, and Members have talked 
about her, the positions that she has held. During her time in the 
House, she was a very powerful advocate for the people of Indianapolis 
and for working families across the Nation.
  As the Indianapolis Star editorial board wrote, ``The city's history-
making congresswoman never forgot her roots.''
  I was listening as Members talked about the role that she had played 
most recently, the congresswoman from California talking about the role 
she played in getting the House to vote for a Congressional Gold Medal 
for Rosa Parks.
  I talked about how it was to watch Julia in Indianapolis and just how 
people responded to her as she was walking down the street, and I now 
talk about how it was the day that she got this idea and started the 
ball rolling on this and then the day that Rosa Parks came to the 
Congress. It was a thrilling, historic day for all of us, the bond 
between the two of them, the reverence in which we all held Rosa Parks, 
and the appreciation that she had for the work that Julia Carson had 
done to make that day possible, not only for Rosa Parks but for the 
country. She's a star. Julia was a star.
  It's a fitting cause for her, as Julia and Rosa Parks shared a quiet 
determination, a fierce sense of purpose and a total commitment to an 
ideal of equality which is our Nation's heritage and our Nation's hope.
  Sadly, as we all know, in recent months, Julia Carson faced illness, 
but she did so with her characteristic courage and dignity. When she 
was here, she was here, and when she wasn't here, she was directing us 
from home. You were very fortunate, and I'm not usually jealous, but 
I'm jealous of the fact that you had an opportunity to see her. We had 
all hoped, of course, that we would see her once again here on the 
floor of the House.
  I know that we're reassured that Julia is now at peace. This lovely, 
lovely woman, with an incredible sense of humor, she didn't miss 
anything that was going on on the floor. She would sit there quietly 
and then make the most incisive and insightful comments about the 
proceedings.
  We're all sad to lose her as a congresswoman, of course, for our 
country. We're deeply saddened to lose her as a friend, and I hope it 
is a comfort to Andre Carson and to her family and to her constituents 
that so many people throughout our country, and certainly in this 
Congress, share their grief and are praying for them at this sad time.
  I thank again my colleague for affording us the opportunity to 
express our admiration for this great lady, Julia Carson.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure at this 
time to yield time to another colleague from California, the 
gentlelady, Maxine Waters.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I'd like to thank the congresswoman from 
Ohio for initiating this memorial moment in the Congress of the United 
States for Julia Carson. This is a very special and important time 
because we're here this evening to talk about a woman that we truly 
loved and a woman who gave so much in public service to her country. I 
know that her family's saddened by her loss because it is a great loss.
  She has been referred to this evening as a jewel, as the queen, and I 
came to understand this quite some time ago.
  I've known Julia for many years, long before I came to Congress and 
long before she came to Congress. I served in the State legislature of 
California, and she was a State legislator also, and like Diane Watson 
and others, we all worked with the Conference of State Legislators and 
the Conference of Black State Legislators. And so she knew legislators 
from all over the country.
  And after I came here, I kept in contact with Julia, and when she ran 
for office, she called me and she told me that she wanted me to help 
her. I thought she wanted me to raise some money or maybe come 
someplace to do something. And after talking with her for a few 
minutes, she made it very clear she wanted me to get Muhammad Ali to 
come to help her out. She didn't want me. She wanted Muhammad Ali, and 
so she said, Well, you know him, don't you? And I said, Yes, I do. She 
said, Well, if I could get Muhammad Ali here, then that would seal the 
deal. That's exactly what I need.
  And of course, I asked him and he went to campaign with her, and he 
often asked after that how she was doing. And his award-winning 
photographer, Mr. Howard Binghan, would oftentimes ask me how she was 
doing, what she was doing so he could report to Muhammad Ali how his 
candidate that he had helped to win that election was doing in the 
Congress of the United States of America.
  Well, let me just say, she was doing wonderfully well legislatively. 
Some people have referred to not only the fact that she was responsible 
for the recognition that Rosa Parks got getting the gold medal, but she 
was working on some tremendous legislation. And as I stand here before 
you this evening as the Chair of that Subcommittee on Housing and 
Community Opportunity, her legislation is really before us. It is known 
as HEARTH. It means the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid 
Transition to Housing Act. And, you know, we've got to pass that 
legislation, and we've got to pass it, that is, H.R. 840, in the way 
that she wants it passed.
  She was expanding the definition of homelessness. She was expanding 
it so that more people, many of whom who were not considered homeless, 
we should be qualifying for homeless assistance, that did not get it, 
could now be drawn in with this legislation.
  So, it is important for all of us to give support to the work that 
she was involved in because, again, this very special woman really did 
not suffer fools. I mean, I know that you've heard

[[Page 35993]]

the story about the time she stepped on the elevator and another Member 
of Congress, who had not been here maybe quite as long as Julia, said 
to Julia when she stepped on the elevator, This elevator is for Members 
of Congress. And of course, she got the look that only Julia can give, 
and told somebody, Close the door, because that's how she handled 
someone who did not have the sense to be gracious enough to whomever 
was getting on the elevator, but certainly she should have known who 
her colleagues were getting on the elevator.
  But there are many stories you will hear about Julia Carson, because 
not only was she brilliant, she had this sense of humor and she had 
this wit that was just undeniable. And of all of the people who spoke 
at Rosa Parks' funeral, and I was at the funeral in Washington, D.C., 
when Julia spoke, she was the most engaging, the most memorable, the 
one that really caught the attention of everyone at that service.
  Julia Carson was truly a queen, and the descriptions that you've 
heard about her this evening and how she was loved, you have to go to 
Indianapolis to understand it. You have to hear people talk about her 
to really get a sense of the queen, and they referred to her as ``the 
queen.''
  And so I'm very proud to be a part of this discussion, remembering 
her this evening, and she will rest in peace, having done her part, 
having given all that any human being could give.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, in her remarks during Rosa Parks' 
memorial service, Representative Carson said, I'm a sister from the 
hood and we know how to get things done. Well, from one sister to 
another sister I want to say, Thank you, Julia Carson, for your legacy 
of service, for your laughter and your love. I promise I will continue 
to work to get things done right here in the House, and I will remember 
all the things that you told me in the last conversations that we had.
  But Julia, I'm still trying to figure out who it was you said was 
going to invite me to dinner. I asked you that day I came to see you, 
and you still wouldn't tell me. So whoever it is, come on and invite me 
to dinner, because Julia Carson would want it to happen.
  I thank all of my colleagues for joining me in this wonderful hour of 
celebration for my colleague and good friend, Julia Carson.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember my friend 
and colleague, the Honorable Julia Carson.
  Everyone loved Julia Carson, especially we in the Congressional Black 
Caucus and the constituents in her district.
  I had an opportunity to travel back to her district with her for a 
weekend health event, and I witnessed the deep affection and admiration 
that the people of Indianapolis--of all ages, races and walks of life--
had for her.
  Julia had a way of telling a story that would have you rolling with 
laughter, even on serious or unpleasant things.
  This was especially true when talking about herself. She was a 
regular at our health braintrust and she spoke of herself as being the 
``poster child'' for health care and health disparities. Although at 
its core, it was no laughing matter, she had everyone in the audience 
cracking up.
  As sick as Julia might have been, she never let it diminish her 
dedicated representation of her district and other work that needed to 
be done in Washington. And she walked to votes even in the last days 
that she was here.
  It was my honor--as it was for many Members--to assist her as she 
came to the Floor or a meeting. Years ago, I took it upon myself to 
call her office and suggest that her staff get her one of those 
motorized scooter-like vehicles that other Members have used off and 
on. Who told me to do that? I got a gentle tongue lashing from my 
friend.
  There were many proud moments when we stood with Julia and applauded 
her achievements, but none more so than the day that Rosa Parks was 
awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor upon the passage of the 
Resolution she sponsored.
  Julia did not even begin to get the kind of attention for her health 
that she needed until she was elected to Congress and by then her heart 
disease, mistaken for indigestion, was far gone.
  Today, this humble lady who had health care deferred because of her 
race and gender, has flags at all Congressional buildings flying at 
half mast in her honor.
  The Nation has lost a champion, the House has lost a valued and 
effective Member, minorities and the poor have lost an ardent advocate 
and I have lost a beloved colleague and friend.
  She has gone to her eternal reward, and may she rest in peace.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to honor the life and 
career of the Honorable Congresswoman, Julia Carson, who was elected to 
Congress in 1996, and who died on December 15, 2007. Representative 
Carson was a most respected friend and colleague of mine and also many 
other Members of Congress. The Honorable Julia Carson was from the 
Seventh Congressional District in Indiana. Ms. Carson was a dedicated 
servant and worked tirelessly for the people of this country and in 
particular she strongly advocated on behalf of those who were living in 
poverty or were homeless.
  The list of legislative efforts that Representative Carson helped to 
create in this and in previous congressional terms spanned many issues 
and these legislative efforts are now a permanent part of the history 
of this Congress and of this county. In particular Representative 
Carson gave her support for primary, secondary and college, education; 
and she believed in ``single payer'' health care, for all citizens of 
this country; she also believed in equal justice for all and lived a 
life that reflected some of these fundamental values that were the 
hallmark of her service to this country.
  Congresswoman Julia Carson honored the legacy of the late Mrs. Rosa 
Louise McCauley Parks when she introduced legislation which came to 
fruition on March 4, 1999, when Mrs. Parks was awarded the 
Congressional Gold Medal. Representative Carson also introduced 
legislation to have a commemorative postage stamp issued on behalf of 
Mrs. Rosa Louise McCauley Parks.
  Representative Julia Carson will always be remembered by her 
successful political career and will continue to make her indelible 
mark in history as a natural politician who steadily strengthened ties 
between people and who never forgot the community which she loved and 
served. People who worked with her in Congress will not forget the 
great sense of humor she would bring to them, when we all were 
experiencing long and arduous efforts that were often expended in the 
process of making daily decisions on significant and lengthy 
congressional efforts.
  Her continued efforts in Congress addressed the issues and supported 
legislation in the following areas: She was a staunch advocate for 
equal rights for men and women. She demonstrated a sincere concern and 
fought for the relief and support for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. 
In her wisdom, she advocated for many medical advances in veterans 
health care. Her continued outspoken support for the Second Chance Act 
of 2007, was well recognized. She spoke out for the support of the 
National Literacy act of 2007. In times of great suffering she stood 
tall and commemorated the Rutgers University women's basketball team 
for their vigor in remaining proud of the skill that the team had 
achieved. She introduced a bill for establishing the celebrated 
National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week. She honored 
the life of Arva Johnson, a pioneer in the United States Capitol Police 
Department, when she became the first African American female to wear 
the police badge. She supported the Horse Slaughter Protection Act. She 
recognized the 20 years of service of the world famous, Dr. James 
Hadley Billington, as Librarian of Congress. Congresswoman Carson 
supported the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 
2007. She worked for the benefit of all persons to have access to 
affordable drugs and medicines by supporting the Pharmaceutical Market 
Access and Drug Safety Act. In the era of DNA research Representative 
Carson supported the Stem Cell enhancement Act of 2007. These are a few 
of the noble congressional legislative actions that she heartily 
supported and advocated for in the history of her tenure in the 
Congress of the United States. We appreciate her great efforts in the 
progress that has been made from all of her humanitarian efforts.
  I extend my greatest sympathy to the family of Congresswoman Julia 
Carson on the loss of their mother, a warm and wonderful humanitarian 
who was an exceptional public figure and who has graciously served this 
country with her grace, wisdom and gentility.
  We will all miss her.
  Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, Indiana lost one of its finest this weekend. 
I was deeply saddened to learn of Julia Carson's passing and my 
thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time.
  I have known Julia for more than 20 years, and am a better person for 
it. She was a dear

[[Page 35994]]

friend and her spirit will unarguably live on not only in the halls of 
Congress, but in the neighborhoods of Indianapolis where she touched 
the lives of so many. She had an enormous presence in Indianapolis and 
was always striving to help those in need.
  Julia embodied the true meaning of a ``liberal''--a woman who was 
always fighting for those without a voice. She championed civil rights 
and walked alongside Martin Luther King, Jr., fighting for equality. 
She was to me, and so many others, a true hero.
  Julia was not only proud to be a Member of Congress and represent the 
fine people of Indianapolis, but she was constantly amazed at how far 
she had come. As many know, Julia had a difficult upbringing but only 
used those experiences to strengthen and shape her political views. 
Julia constantly reminded us all how fortunate we are to be Members of 
Congress.
  I will miss Julia very much. But, her spirit will live on for decades 
to come. She was a truly faithful person and took much comfort in that. 
I am so honored to have known Julia for so many years and to have 
worked so closely with her. She leaves behind a legacy of charity, 
service and an unwavering commitment to helping others.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I wish to mourn the passing of 
Congresswoman Julia May Carson, a committed and valued voice for 
justice, who passed away on December 15, 2007. Congresswoman Carson was 
born on July 8, 1938 in Louisville, Kentucky. She grew up in 
Indianapolis, Indiana where she would lead a remarkable life committed 
to justice for all. Congresswoman Carson was loved by many for her 
effervescent personality and fighting spirit. She served her 
constituents of the 7th Congressional District of Indiana for 6 terms 
in the United States House of Representatives. She was the first 
African-American and woman elected to serve Indianapolis in Congress.
  In her youth, Ms. Carson overcame obstacles created by race, gender, 
and poverty as the child of a single teenage mother. She attended and 
graduated from Crispus Attucks High School in 1955, a deeply segregated 
school in Indianapolis. However, her battles with injustice motivated 
her to pursue degrees in higher education at Martin University and 
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Her career in public 
service began in 1965, when she was hired as a staff assistant and aide 
to Congressman Andrew Jacobs, Jr., her mentor and predecessor in the 
7th District of Indiana. She worked diligently on casework and other 
important legislative matters until 1972, when she ran and won a seat 
in the Indiana State House of Representatives. She served in the 
Indiana State House from 1972-1976 and in the Indiana State Senate from 
1976-1990. In 1990, she was elected as a trustee for Center Township in 
downtown Indianapolis. As trustee, she was a just leader and a voice 
for reform. Her thoroughness and fiscal responsibility helped her 
manage the welfare rolls by providing assistance to those that needed 
it and removing those that did not. As a result, she transformed the 
office's $20 million debt into a $6 million surplus. She served as 
trustee for 6 years prior to her election to Congress.
  In 1996, after a competitive campaign, Congresswoman Carson replaced 
her mentor and predecessor Andrew Jacobs, Jr., as the representative 
for Indiana's 7th District. On January 3, 1997, she missed her 
congressional inauguration due to health problems. Her congressional 
tenure was replete with obstacles from failing health to closely 
competitive campaigns, but her tenacity and love for her district would 
not let anything impede her sincere dedication to her constituents. She 
never stopped caring for her district and she never lost a race. One of 
her most notable achievements in the House was passing a measure 
awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Rosa Parks. Another milestone 
accomplishment was a bill she cosponsored with Senator Richard Lugar to 
remove blocks on child health insurance created by government agencies. 
She always sponsored legislation that helped the poor and homeless, 
veterans, and faithful American taxpayers. She served on the House 
Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure. Her 10 years in the House were a testament of 
perseverance, devotion and inexhaustible compassion.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to commend the life and mourn the 
passing of Congresswoman Julia Carson.
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, I raise to honor the legacy and 
accomplishments of our recently passed colleague and dear friend Julia 
Carson.
  In 1996 Julia's deep commitment to those she served led her to become 
the first African-American woman to be elected to the U.S. House from 
Indiana. I had the opportunity to get to know Julia during our freshman 
terms in the 105th Congress and build a relationship with her over the 
past 10 years that we have both served. Julia spent her time in 
Congress working for children's issues, women's rights and efforts to 
reduce homelessness. One of her biggest accomplishment in the House was 
passing legislation granting the Congressional Gold Medal to Rosa 
Parks, the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement who was arrested for 
refusing to give up her seat on a segregated city bus in Montgomery, 
AL. She leaves behind an unmated record of service to the people and an 
unequaled legacy of leadership.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in paying 
respect to the family of Julia Carson and in honoring her career in 
service to our country.

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