Barbara Lee: “We lost a devoted public servant with the recent passing of our dear friend, Representative Pete Stark. As a student at…”

“We lost a devoted public servant with the recent passing of our dear friend, Representative Pete Stark. As a student at Mills College during the early 1970s, I was president of the Black Student Union, and Pete helped me with many of my organizing efforts. He was also the very first Member of Congress I voted for. Pete served for 40 years as a passionate and courageous public servant who made it his goal to advocate for those most in need. Through working alongside him in Congress, I came to admire his willingness to speak out for what he believed to be right, even when it meant challenging those in power. Pete made a difference in the lives of millions of people across the country. His substantial and lasting influence on health policy reflected his deeply held values of compassionate legislating and courageous advocacy. Pete believed it was his role to fight for the people's interests, not for special interests. He saw his role as one of advocacy for the underserved people of his district and throughout the country. Pete never failed to speak up when it came time to champion a more compassionate approach to governance. He truly spoke truth to power. My thoughts and prayers are with Pete's wife, Deborah, his children, his family, and his loved ones. May we carry his baton forward in our work for a more just world, a more compassionate world, and may he rest in peace. ____________________”