The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“CONNECTICUT PAYS TRIBUTE TO SECRETARY RON BROWN” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E561 on March 21, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
CONNECTICUT PAYS TRIBUTE TO SECRETARY RON BROWN
______
HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Thursday, March 20, 1997
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, March 24, 1997 Connecticut will become the first State to participate in a State to State Day for the Ronald H. Brown Foundation. I am very pleased to rise today to pay tribute to the life and work of Ronald Brown and his family's efforts to continue his work through the Ronald H. Brown Foundation.
Secretary Brown spent a lifetime working to improve and expand opportunities for Americans. He spent 12 years working for the National Urban League as Deputy Executive Director, General Counsel and vice president for its Washington organization. He will always be remembered for his tremendously successful tenure as chairman of the Democratic National Committee when he was instrumental in President Clinton's election. The President referred to Ron as ``a strong and independent leader and a forceful advocate'' when he nominated him to be the 30th United States Secretary of Commerce.
Dynamic and persuasive, Ron Brown used his position in the Commerce Department to be a tireless crusader for economic policies which build a partnership between the public and private sectors. While Secretary of Commerce, Ron made working with small business and minority entrepreneurs one of his priorities. However, Ron Brown's focus did not stop at the United States borders. He realized that America had to retain the lead in international commerce to continue to grow and provide economic opportunity for all of its citizens. To this end, he traveled the world to promote trade and the export of United States goods and services. Indeed, he will long be remembered for his far-
reaching vision and unique style.
Ron Brown believed that economic opportunity would come from the integration of education, political development and international commerce. His legacy to us is the challenge of making his goals a reality. His family has taken on that challenge and founded the Ronald H. Brown Foundation to ensure that Ron Brown's lifetime of work will be carried on. The Foundation will focus on three areas: policy development, global commerce, and education.
I am proud that Connecticut is the first State to participate in the State to State effort to get the Ronald H. Brown Foundation on its way. I thank Ron Brown's wife Alma and his children, Michael and Tracy, for allowing me to be a part of this exciting new venture. We all have great hopes for the Foundation and I know that Ron Brown would be pleased to see that the vision he dedicated his life to is now closer to reality. My congratulations to everyone involved in this extraordinary project.
____________________
