[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12200]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LIFE OF LILLIAN KAWASAKI

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to 
honor the life of Lillian Kawasaki, who proudly served the Los Angeles 
community for more than three decades, working tirelessly to protect 
our environment.
  Lillian was an inspiration and a trailblazer. In 1990, she was named 
general manager of the Department of Environmental Affairs for the City 
of Los Angeles, becoming the first Asian American in city history to be 
appointed a department chief.
  It is because of Lillian's leadership and her vision that Los Angeles 
launched major initiatives in air and water quality protection and 
environmental cleanup. Local businesses began investing in renewable 
energy thanks to Lillian Kawasaki.
  I had the privilege of working with Lillian when she served as board 
director for the Water Replenishment District. It would be hard to find 
a public official more involved in her community than Lillian was.
  On a personal note, it was an honor for me to call her a close 
friend. Lillian was an extraordinarily giving person. She always 
remembered birthdays and anniversaries. She asked me often how my 
family and my son were doing because she truly cared.

                              {time}  1045

  I offer my condolences to Lillian's husband, to her family, and to 
her loved ones. She was a tremendous public servant, a shining example 
for others, and a generous and truly kind human being, and I will miss 
her greatly.

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