Date: 2013-10-28
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I rise to join my colleagues in celebrating "the peoples Congressman." I am so delighted that we have the opportunity to share our friendship toward the late Congressman Major Owens. who loved his Brooklyn district and loved his family. My deepest sympathy goes to his wife Maria. and all of his family members. Major Owens was truly someone who served the people. I am reminded of a story that he told of when his family heard that FDR was providing opportunities for work in the 1940s. No one in his community was getting jobs. but his parents wrote to FDR. and all of a sudden things changed. That is the kind of man Congressman Owens was. He was a changemaker. educator. and librarian. He was always there to say that his district and Americas poor people needed to be represented. He was. in fact. the peoples Congressperson because he extended his hand. He loved the people. He provided resources and he fought the good fight. I want to thank you. Congressman Major Owens. for being my friend and a friend of those in Congress. Republicans and Democrats. Most of all. I want to thank Congressman Major Owens for being the friend of poor people around the Nation who could not speak for themselves. I am glad that his giant footsteps had a great impact on the congressional district he represented. More importantly. he had a great impact on America. He was a soldier on the battlefield for those who could not speak for themselves. May he rest in peace. God bless him and his family. Madam Speaker. I rise to pay tribute to a great American. a fighter for justice and equality. one of the most passionate advocates for educational opportunity. and a man who served in this body with distinction. Major R. Owens of New York. Congressman Owens died Monday. October 21. in Manhattan at the age of 77. Major Owens was born June 28. 1936. in Collierville. Tennessee. He was educated at Morehouse College. from which he received his baccalaureate degree. and Atlanta University. from which he earned a Master of Science degree. Major Owens later moved to New York where he worked as a librarian before accepting an appointment from Mayor John V. Lindsay to serve as Director of the New York City Community Development Agency. He also served as a faculty member in the Department of Public Administration at Medgar Evers College. In 1974. Major Owens was elected to the New York State Senate and was reelected to serve a second term in 1978. In 1982. Major Owens won a competitive primary to fill the seat of retiring Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm. the first African American woman elected to the House of Representatives and the first woman ever to seek the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. As the Member of Congress for the 11th Congressional District of New York. Major Owens represented a diverse district and eclectic district centered in Brooklyn. and including low income areas of Brownsville and parts of BedfordStuyvesant. the large Hasidic community of Crown Heights. the heavily Caribbean areas of Flatbush and East Flatbush. and the more affluent neighborhoods Park Slope and Prospect Park. Affectionately known as the "Education Congressman" by his constituents. Major Owens fought tirelessly throughout his twelve terms in Congress to protect and expand educational opportunity for all Americans. especially those from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds. As he often reminded his colleagues in the House. education was "the kingpin issue." In an article he published in Black Issues in Higher Education. he wrote: "We have to believe that all power and progress really begins with education." Major Owens served on the House Committee on Government Reform and the Committee on Education and the Workforce. As the Ranking Member on the Education and Workforce Subcommittee for Workforce Protections. Congressman Owens helped lead the fight for minimum wage increases. blocked the attempt to eliminate cash payments for overtime. fought against efforts to roll back or repeal DavisBacon and to weaken the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. As Chairman of the Education Subcommittee on Select Education and Civil Rights (198894). Congresswoman Owens was one of the earliest and strongest supporters of the Americans With Disabilities Act. which was enacted into law in 1991. In recognition for his yeoman work to pass the ADA. Major Owens was awarded an honorary degree by Galludet University. the worlds premier higher education institution serving deaf and hard of hearing people. Major Owens loved serving in this body and he was a valued member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus. As Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Task Force on Haiti. he led the successful threeyear fight which restored the democratically elected President JeanBertrand Aristide. Madam Speaker. Congressman Owens was a legislators legislator. Our prayers and condolences go out to his wife Maria. his sons Chris. Geoff. and Milard. his grandchildren. and to all his friends and loved ones. Major Owens touched so many lives in so many helpful ways that he will always be remembered by people he served so ably and selflessly for more than thirty years. Madam Speaker. a dear colleague has fallen. We are all saddened at the loss but overjoyed to have had the honor of serving with the distinguished gentleman from Brooklyn. New York. the honorable Major R. Owens.