Lincoln Diaz-Balart: “Today I rise to honor one of our former colleagues, a woman who is really an institution in south Florida, in Florida…”

“Today I rise to honor one of our former colleagues, a woman who is really an institution in south Florida, in Florida, and in the Nation, and that is, of course, Congresswoman Carrie Meek. She was the first African American elected to the Florida Senate in 1982, and then along with two other colleagues became the first African American to be elected from Florida to the U.S. Congress since Reconstruction. But here is what I know and remember about Carrie Meek. She is the consummate stateswoman. She is a person who loves her country. She loves this institution. It doesn't matter what party you're from. Whenever you have a need, whenever you have an issue, when you want counsel, she's the person that to this day we continue to go to. So today again, Madam Speaker, I'm here to honor a great woman, a great stateswoman, a person who in the State of Florida is revered by Republicans and Democrats alike. Her son followed her into Congress, Kendrick Meek, and he did a wonderful job, and also comes from that great tree that is Carrie Meek. Again, I'm here to honor Carrie Meek. Carrie, we love you, we miss you, we honor you. ____________________”