[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17041]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING COUNCILWOMAN MAXINE HERRING PARKER

  (Ms. SEWELL of Alabama asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and 
honor to the life and legacy of Birmingham City Council President 
Maxine Herring Parker, who passed away suddenly on Tuesday, November 
12, 2013.
  Councilwoman Parker was the epitome of grace, class, and firm yet 
gentle leadership. With her signature flower lapels to accentuate her 
immaculate appearance, this soft-spoken leader personified womanhood 
while serving as a great source of strength for her family and 
community.
  Her love of family was second only to her love of her constituents in 
Birmingham City Council District 4. Through her 8-year tenure on the 
city council in Birmingham, Alabama, Councilwoman Parker was best known 
for her advocacy for environmental justice on behalf of her 
constituents in north Birmingham. In 2011, as a result of her tireless 
advocacy, the Environmental Protection Agency began its first major 
intervention in the area. Today, that environmental cleanup still 
exists.
  On behalf of our Nation, the State of Alabama, and the city of 
Birmingham, I am honored to pay tribute to the life and legacy of this 
phenomenal woman. She was indeed one of the most passionate community 
servants of her time. Let us all commit to continuing Councilwoman 
Parker's legacy of passion and concern for others.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and legacy of 
Birmingham City Council President Maxine Herring Parker.

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