[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 845-846]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING NEW JERSEY STATE SENATOR NIA GILL AND HER COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL 
                                JUSTICE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 25, 2011

  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor State Senator Nia 
Gill for her contributions to the 34th legislative district of New 
Jersey and its residents.
  A proud mother and grandmother, Senator Gill was born in Glen Ridge 
and raised in Montclair. Before earning her law degree at the Rutgers 
School of Law--Newark, Senator Gill graduated from Upsala College. 
Senator Gill also holds an honorary Doctor of Laws from Essex County 
College.
  Ms. Gill began her career in government as a Legislative Aide to the 
late Senator Wynona Lipman, over 20 years ago. After serving four terms 
in the New Jersey State Assembly, Ms. Gill was elected to the New 
Jersey State Senate in 2001. Senator Gill's district includes 
Montclair, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Clifton, and Woodland Park.
  In January of 2010, Ms. Gill was chosen by her Senate colleagues to 
serve as Senate President Pro Tempore. Currently, Senator Gill is a 
member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, making her the first African 
American and the first woman to hold this position.

[[Page 846]]

  An advocate for human rights, Senator Gill has sponsored legislation 
that provided more than 100,000 young, uninsured New Jersey citizens 
with health insurance coverage. Ms. Gill has also assisted women-owned 
businesses in New Jersey with a bill providing loans and training, 
ensuring that these businesses are able to prosper in the future.
  A respected member of the legislative community, Senator Gill was 
honored by Selma, Alabama as one of the `100 women in the 20th Century' 
who contributed to the struggle for civil rights. Senator Gill will 
also be honored as a community leader by the Rutgers School of Law--
Camden at the Champions of Social Justice and Equality Banquet.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Senator Gill and thank her for her 
legislative accomplishments on behalf of the state of New Jersey and 
its residents.

                          ____________________