[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8383]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY SPEAKER-ELECT KAREN BASS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 8, 2008

  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Madam Speaker, as chair of the 
California Democratic Congressional Delegation, I rise today to 
recognize a historic milestone in California history. Next week, on 
Tuesday, May 13, 2008, the Honorable Karen Bass will be seated as 
California's first African American woman Speaker of the State 
Assembly. I would also point out, Madam Speaker, that this is the first 
time that an African American woman has held this post in any State.
  Speaker-elect Bass was first elected to the State Assembly in 2004 to 
represent the 47th Assembly District which covers parts of Los Angeles. 
Assemblywoman Bass's leadership skills were recognized early on, as she 
was selected in her first term to the influential position of Assembly 
Majority Whip. In her second term, Assemblywoman Bass was elevated to 
the powerful post of Assembly Majority Leader. During her first two 
terms in the State Assembly, Speaker-elect Bass had 17 of her bills 
signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger on issues ranging from 
foster care reform to children's health insurance.
  Before entering elected office, Speaker-elect Bass founded and ran 
the Community Coalition, a community based nonprofit organization in 
South Los Angeles. As Executive Director, she built the Community 
Coalition into an important social justice organization that empowered 
residents and helped clean up neighborhoods ravaged by the crack 
cocaine epidemic. Today, the organization is considered a model of 
community engagement throughout the country.
  Speaker-elect Bass grew up in the Venice/Fairfax area of Los Angeles, 
California. She is the daughter of DeWitt and Wilhelmina Bass. Her 
father worked as a mail carrier and her mother was a full-time stay-at-
home mom who raised four children. Speaker-elect Bass is a graduate of 
Hamilton High School, received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Health 
Sciences from Cal State Dominguez Hills and has a Physician Assistant 
Certificate from the University of Southern California School of 
Medicine.
  Within a matter of a few short years, Speaker-elect Bass went from 
being a community organizer to an elected official, and beginning next 
week, will be one of the most influential legislative leaders in the 
largest State in the country. Her rapid ascension is a testament to not 
only her leadership skills, but also to her dedication to the people 
that she serves.
  On behalf of all 34 members of the California Democratic 
Congressional Delegation, I congratulate Speaker-elect Bass on her 
historic election and look forward to working with the new Assembly 
Speaker as we move forward together to address the issues facing the 
State of California.

                          ____________________