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House Resolution 1
A resolution honoring former United States 2
Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek, in memoriam, for her 3
legacy of leadership, advocacy, and public service and 4
her countless contributions to the state. 5
6
WHEREAS, former United States Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek 7
was born in Tallahassee, Florida, on April 29, 1926, to Willie 8
and Carrie Pittman who began their lives together as 9
sharecroppers, and 10
WHEREAS, as the granddaught er of "Miss Mandy," a slave born 11
and raised in Lilly, Georgia, Congresswoman Meek grew up during 12
the turbulent Jim Crow era but would overcome many racial, 13
gender, and educational barriers during her lifetime, and 14
WHEREAS, in 1946, Congresswoman Meek earn ed a Bachelor of 15
Science in Biology and Physical Education from Florida 16
Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), where she was a 17
member of the esteemed Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and 18
WHEREAS, in the 1940s, a state law prohibited Black 19
students from attending public graduate schools, which forced 20
Congresswoman Meek to enroll out of state at the University of 21
Michigan, where she earned a Master of Science in Public Health 22
and Physical Education, and 23
WHEREAS, upon graduating from the University of Michigan, 24
Congresswoman Meek accepted a position at Bethune -Cookman 25
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College as an instructor and became the institution's first 26
female basketball coach, and 27
WHEREAS, Congresswoman Meek later returned to FAMU as a 28
health and physical education instructo r, a position she would 29
hold until 1961, and 30
WHEREAS, after leaving FAMU, Congresswoman Meek continued 31
her career in higher education at Miami Dade Community College, 32
where she became the first Black professor, Associate Dean, and 33
Assistant to the Vice Pr esident of the college, and 34
WHEREAS, in 1978, Congresswoman Meek ran for the Florida 35
House of Representatives and defeated 12 other candidates to win 36
her place in the Florida Legislature, serving from 1979 to 1983 37
and chairing the Education Appropriations Subcommittee, and 38
WHEREAS, beginning in 1983, Congresswoman Meek served as 39
the first Black woman elected to the Florida Senate and the 40
first Black legislator to serve in that legislative body in more 41
than a century, and 42
WHEREAS, as a skilled lawmaker wh o was once called "the 43
conscience of the Florida Senate," Congresswoman Meek passed 44
significant legislation to promote literacy and encourage 45
students to stay in school and was a long -time champion of 46
housing rights, and 47
WHEREAS, in 1992, Congresswoman Me ek continued her 48
trailblazing political career representing Florida's 17th 49
Congressional District as a member of the United States House of 50
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Representatives and becoming one of the first Black members from 51
the state elected to the United States Congress sin ce the 52
Reconstruction era, and 53
WHEREAS, while serving in the United States Congress, 54
Congresswoman Meek was a member of the powerful House Committee 55
on Appropriations and worked to secure $100 million in aid to 56
rebuild Dade County as the area recovered fr om Hurricane Andrew, 57
and 58
WHEREAS, Congresswoman Meek built her legacy on advocating 59
for equal and fair treatment for all individuals, regardless of 60
the color of their skin, stating "I didn't go into politics with 61
a chip on my shoulder, but I let people up there know I expected 62
to get the same results as anybody else," and 63
WHEREAS, after leaving the United States Congress, 64
Congresswoman Meek returned to her community to fully dedicate 65
herself to charitable activities through the Carrie Meek 66
Foundation, which serves as an extension of the public service 67
to which she was committed throughout her lifetime, and 68
WHEREAS, on November 28, 2021, Congresswoman Meek passed 69
away, leaving behind a legacy that will significantly enrich 70
future generations of Florida residents, NOW, THEREFORE, 71
72
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of 73
Florida: 74
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That former United States Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek is 76
honored, in memoriam, for her legacy of leadership, advocacy, 77
and public service and her countless contributions to the state. 78
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be 79
presented to the family members of Congresswoman Meek as a 80
tangible token of the sentiments expressed herein. 81