Florida 2022 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H8059 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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3	3	HR 8059 2022
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10	10	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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12	12	House Resolution 1
13	13	A resolution honoring former United States 2
14	14	Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek, in memoriam, for her 3
15	15	legacy of leadership, advocacy, and public service and 4
16	16	her countless contributions to the state. 5
17	17	6
18	18	WHEREAS, former United States Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek 7
19	19	was born in Tallahassee, Florida, on April 29, 1926, to Willie 8
20	20	and Carrie Pittman who began their lives together as 9
21	21	sharecroppers, and 10
22	22	WHEREAS, as the granddaught er of "Miss Mandy," a slave born 11
23	23	and raised in Lilly, Georgia, Congresswoman Meek grew up during 12
24	24	the turbulent Jim Crow era but would overcome many racial, 13
25	25	gender, and educational barriers during her lifetime, and 14
26	26	WHEREAS, in 1946, Congresswoman Meek earn ed a Bachelor of 15
27	27	Science in Biology and Physical Education from Florida 16
28	28	Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), where she was a 17
29	29	member of the esteemed Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and 18
30	30	WHEREAS, in the 1940s, a state law prohibited Black 19
31	31	students from attending public graduate schools, which forced 20
32	32	Congresswoman Meek to enroll out of state at the University of 21
33	33	Michigan, where she earned a Master of Science in Public Health 22
34	34	and Physical Education, and 23
35	35	WHEREAS, upon graduating from the University of Michigan, 24
36	36	Congresswoman Meek accepted a position at Bethune -Cookman 25 
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47	47	College as an instructor and became the institution's first 26
48	48	female basketball coach, and 27
49	49	WHEREAS, Congresswoman Meek later returned to FAMU as a 28
50	50	health and physical education instructo r, a position she would 29
51	51	hold until 1961, and 30
52	52	WHEREAS, after leaving FAMU, Congresswoman Meek continued 31
53	53	her career in higher education at Miami Dade Community College, 32
54	54	where she became the first Black professor, Associate Dean, and 33
55	55	Assistant to the Vice Pr esident of the college, and 34
56	56	WHEREAS, in 1978, Congresswoman Meek ran for the Florida 35
57	57	House of Representatives and defeated 12 other candidates to win 36
58	58	her place in the Florida Legislature, serving from 1979 to 1983 37
59	59	and chairing the Education Appropriations Subcommittee, and 38
60	60	WHEREAS, beginning in 1983, Congresswoman Meek served as 39
61	61	the first Black woman elected to the Florida Senate and the 40
62	62	first Black legislator to serve in that legislative body in more 41
63	63	than a century, and 42
64	64	WHEREAS, as a skilled lawmaker wh o was once called "the 43
65	65	conscience of the Florida Senate," Congresswoman Meek passed 44
66	66	significant legislation to promote literacy and encourage 45
67	67	students to stay in school and was a long -time champion of 46
68	68	housing rights, and 47
69	69	WHEREAS, in 1992, Congresswoman Me ek continued her 48
70	70	trailblazing political career representing Florida's 17th 49
71	71	Congressional District as a member of the United States House of 50 
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82	82	Representatives and becoming one of the first Black members from 51
83	83	the state elected to the United States Congress sin ce the 52
84	84	Reconstruction era, and 53
85	85	WHEREAS, while serving in the United States Congress, 54
86	86	Congresswoman Meek was a member of the powerful House Committee 55
87	87	on Appropriations and worked to secure $100 million in aid to 56
88	88	rebuild Dade County as the area recovered fr om Hurricane Andrew, 57
89	89	and 58
90	90	WHEREAS, Congresswoman Meek built her legacy on advocating 59
91	91	for equal and fair treatment for all individuals, regardless of 60
92	92	the color of their skin, stating "I didn't go into politics with 61
93	93	a chip on my shoulder, but I let people up there know I expected 62
94	94	to get the same results as anybody else," and 63
95	95	WHEREAS, after leaving the United States Congress, 64
96	96	Congresswoman Meek returned to her community to fully dedicate 65
97	97	herself to charitable activities through the Carrie Meek 66
98	98	Foundation, which serves as an extension of the public service 67
99	99	to which she was committed throughout her lifetime, and 68
100	100	WHEREAS, on November 28, 2021, Congresswoman Meek passed 69
101	101	away, leaving behind a legacy that will significantly enrich 70
102	102	future generations of Florida residents, NOW, THEREFORE, 71
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104	104	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of 73
105	105	Florida: 74
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117	117	That former United States Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek is 76
118	118	honored, in memoriam, for her legacy of leadership, advocacy, 77
119	119	and public service and her countless contributions to the state. 78
120	120	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be 79
121	121	presented to the family members of Congresswoman Meek as a 80
122	122	tangible token of the sentiments expressed herein. 81