Yvette Clarke: “To my colleague, Congressman Chaka Fattah, it was a great day, November 21. But let me just say this: I want to thank…”

“To my colleague, Congressman Chaka Fattah, it was a great day, November 21. But let me just say this: I want to thank you for your leadership. It is very appropriate that we're here on the House floor, a place where Mr. Gray's power was most profoundly felt, and that you, being his successor in office, would lead us through what, for many of us, is a day of celebration and commemoration of his life. On behalf of the people of the Ninth Congressional District, I'm here to express our most profound condolences to the family of Congressman Bill Gray and, as I've said, to celebrate his life and the legacy that he's left for all of us. Trailblazer, man of God, outstanding husband, father, preacher, skilled negotiator, consensus builder, majority whip, and servant leader, these are just a few of the words that describe the Honorable William H. Gray. As a pioneering Member of Congress, William H. Gray III was an industrious public servant who worked diligently to provide equal rights, education, and service to the people of his district and, indeed, our Nation. He was a trailblazer for so many who have followed in his footsteps in the House of Representatives, including myself, and paved the way for many more to follow. Congressman Gray represented the Second District of Pennsylvania from 1979 to 1991. He was the first African American to become majority whip of the House of Representatives in 1989, the third-ranking House leadership position.…”