Date: 2012-03-21
Speaker: DAVID SCOTT (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Madam Speaker. ladies and gentlemen of the Congress. Monica Pearson. with WSB Television in Atlanta. Georgia. is indeed a true pioneer and a trailblazer in television news. She broke barriers as an African American and as a woman news anchor for WSB Television starting in 1975. The year 1975 was an important turning point. especially in the South. So it is very important for us to understand the significance of Monica often appearing as a nightly anchor. as the first African American and first woman in the South at WSB Television in 1975. Now. 38 years later. Monica is retiring. Monica Pearson brought a special talent. a sparkling personality. hard work. and a high nobility of purpose that appealed to everybody. to people of all races. and she became endeared to everybody from every walk of life. What a great American story is Monica Pearson. She paved the way for other African Americans and women to become news anchors and to become television journalists throughout the South. So it is most fitting as she announces her retirement that we gather here today on the part of the United States Congress to give her this special commendation. We also give a special commendation to WSB Television and Cox Enterprises management for making that critical decision at that important time in the history of the United States. Because of her talent. because of her hard work. we in the Congress of the United States recognize with high distinction an outstanding American: Monica Pearson. an outstanding American. Madam Speaker. Monica Pearson is a familiar face to metro Atlantas residents. though most know her by her former nameMonica Kaufman. For the past 37 years. Monica has anchored WSBTVs Channel 2 Action News. The character and amount of trust she has built as Channel 2s nightly newscaster is laudable. but perhaps more important are the barriers she broke as she developed that reputation. Born and brought up in the Civil Rights era. Monica became not only the first AfricanAmerican. but also the first woman to anchor a daily evening newscast on WSB in Throughout her long career. Monica has accumulated an even longer list of awards and achievements. All in all. she has won thirty Local and Southern Regional Emmy awards. When she saw injustice or a story that needed to be heard. she was there reporting on itfirst at the 6 pm and 11 pm segments. and later at 4 pm. Her hardhitting investigative journalism cuts at all different issues. In 1992 she spoke out on behalf of women and girls in Georgia when she found out that the Georgia High School Associations allmale executive committee did not have a statewide competition for girls soccer or cheerleading. She was awarded the Womens Sports Journalism Award for Local Television Reporting from the Womens Sports Foundation and Miller Lite for her report. Monica has been honored for bringing attention to a wide range of issuesfrom the "HOT FLASH! The Truth about Menopause" documentary that won local and national awards in 1994 to the "Prejudice and Hate: Georgians and the Holocaust" documentary that lead to win the Georgia Commission on the Holocausts Humanitarian Award in 1977. Her sense of civic duty. compassion and curiosity has distinguished her from her peers. winning an Emmy Award for Best Feature Program"Monica Kaufman Closeups". the National Foundation for Women Legislators "Media Excellence Award" and the Georgia Commission of Womens "2004 Georgia Woman of the Year". While devoting her life to journalism. she has also deeply involved herself in the community. She remains a passionate supporter of the Metropolitan United Way. the organization that helped her move beyond her poor background to become an awardwinning newscaster. Since then. she has served as Chair of Atlantas United Way board. the first AfricanAmerican and only the second woman. Her dedication to the organization might be due in no small part to the fact that her daughter was adopted through a United Way agency. In her own words. "United Way literally unites people." United Way is not the only organization that has touched Monicas heart. For many years. Monica ran in the Susan G. Komens Race for the Cure. She continued to run in the race and volunteer for the organization until the year she herself was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her reaction to this cancer is a story that truly touched my heart. A very religious woman. Monica did not let fear cripple herinstead she left everything to God. She prayed. "Thy will be done. 0 Lord. not mine." "If you are really strong in your faith. then you dont worry about the outcome". she said. The outcome is obviousMonica remains to this day a strong. dedicated woman. She is both an inspiration and a role model. Monica will be retiring in July. but I know her character. personality and spirit will not let her keep still. I wish her the very best in her future endeavors. and may we continue to hear of her excellent work for her community. God Bless.