[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 7897-7898]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                          HONORING ANITA DATAR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Lowey) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor an extraordinary public 
servant, Anita Datar, who was tragically killed late last year during 
the despicable terrorist attack at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, 
Mali.
  Anita, only 41 years old, was senior director for field programs for 
the international development firm, Palladium. She went to Mali on a 
USAID-supported research project focused on women's reproductive 
health.
  Raised in New Jersey, Anita devoted her entire career to 
international public health and development. She started as a Peace 
Corps volunteer in Senegal, and then continued to travel throughout 
sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, helping 
vulnerable communities escape poverty and disease.
  Anita founded a nonprofit organization that connects low-income women 
in developing countries to quality health services. She was especially 
committed to expanding access to family planning services and treating 
and preventing HIV.
  Anita's son, Rohan, is in the gallery today with his father, David. 
They will join Anita's friends and colleagues at a reception this 
evening at the U.S. Institute of Peace to remember Anita and celebrate 
the mark her work left on so many.
  Rohan recently moved to my home district in New York. Rohan, we are 
proud and honored to have you in our community. Your mom made the world 
a better place through her passion, spirit, and dedication to helping 
others. Her selfless commitment to service is one of the many indelible 
legacies Anita bestowed on Rohan and all those who had the honor of 
knowing her.
  I would also note that the Senate passed, on February 1, 2016, a 
bipartisan resolution, S. Res. 347, honoring the memory and legacy of 
Anita Ashok Datar; condemning the terrorist attack in Bamako, Mali, on 
November 20, 2015; and extending heartfelt condolences and prayers to 
the family, friends, and colleagues of Anita Ashok Datar, particularly 
her son, Rohan; and the individuals touched by the life of Anita Ashok 
Datar or affected by her death, including the dedicated development 
professionals and volunteers that continue to selflessly engage in 
critical humanitarian and development efforts.
  The text of S. Res. 347 can be found on pages S134-S135 of the 
Congressional Record, dated Wednesday, January 20, 2016.
  We will continue to be inspired by Anita's dedication to helping 
others.

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