IN REMEMBRANCE OF JOHN CONYERS, TIRELESS FIGHTER FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY, CHAIRMAN OF HOUSE COMMITTEES ON OVERSIGHT AND ON THE JUDICIARY, FOUNDING MEMBER OF CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS, MEMBER OF...
Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat, TX) \u2014 2019-10-31

. Madam , I rise in remembrance of Chairman John Conyers, Jr the tireless Fighter for Justice and Equality, Chairman of House Committees on Oversight and on the Judiciary, Founding Member of Congressional Black Caucus, Member of Congress From Michigan For 53 years, my mentor, a beloved colleague, and dear friend who died on Sunday, October 27, 2019, at his home in Detroit, Michigan at the age of 90. prgtoken Madam , John Conyers, Jr. was a statesman and strong supporter of equality, economic and social justice, civil rights, and human dignity for all. prgtoken John Conyers, Jr. was born May 16, 1929 in Highland Park, Michigan to Lucille Janice and John Conyers, Sr a union organizer in the automotive industry and an international representative with the United Auto Workers. prgtoken After graduation from Northwestern High School, John Conyers dutifully served his country in the Michigan National Guard from 1948 to 1950, the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1954, and the U.S. Army Reserves from 1954 to 1957, serving during the Korean War and as an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where he was awarded combat and merit citations. prgtoken Following his military service, John Conyers earned his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor from Wayne State University and was admitted to the Michigan State Bar. prgtoken Chairman Conyers began his legislative career on the staff of the late Congressman John Dingell and during this time he also served as counsel to several Detroit-area labor unions and was referee for Michigan's workmen's compensation department. prgtoken In 1964, John Conyers was first elected to represent the First Congressional District of Michigan and was reelected to the succeeding 90th Congress and the following 15 Congresses until he retired on December 5, 2017. prgtoken On the retirement of Congressman John Dingell at the end of the 113th Congress in December 2015, John Conyers became the longest-serving member of the United States Congress, serving as Dean of the House from January 3, 2015 until December 2017. prgtoken Madam , John Conyers was also the third longest-serving member of the House in history and the sixth longest-serving member of Congress in history; the second-longest serving member of either the House or Senate in Michigan history, trailing only his former boss, Congressman Dingell; and was the last member of the large ic freshman class of 1964 to serve in the House of Representatives. prgtoken In the more than half century he served in Congress, John Conyers was at the forefront of most of the seminal moments in American political history, such as working to enact into law this partial list of landmark legislation: prgtoken Voting Rights of 1965 prgtoken Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare) prgtoken Fair Housing Act of 1968 prgtoken Clean Air Act prgtoken Clean Water Act prgtoken Help America Vote Act prgtoken Affordable Care Act prgtoken Dodd-Frank Act prgtoken American Act