The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN HONOR OF MRS. CORDELIA LEWIS-BURKS
______
HON. ANDRE CARSON
of indiana
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor my mentor and friend, Mrs. Cordelia Lewis-Burks, a remarkable Hoosier who has dedicated her life to the service of others. Throughout her career, Ms. Cordelia has fought tirelessly for inclusion, equality, and justice through the election of qualified diverse individuals.
Ms. Cordelia discovered a love of politics from an early age, inspired by her father who was a pastor in West Virginia. Recognizing the importance of policy as a means to help her community, she engaged in political efforts as a young woman after moving to Chicago by volunteering for a local Congressional campaign.
In 1959, Ms. Cordelia moved to Indiana where she worked as a licensed practical nurse for two decades before accepting an internship with the A. Philip Randolph Institute. She next embarked on a career with the senior constituency group of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). Ms. Cordelia continued her work with unions for many years. In 1989, she served as chief lobbyist for the Indiana branch of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union (AFSCME), and then as the Director of Politics and Legislation until 2005.
Ms. Cordelia served as a precinct committeewoman in the 7th Congressional District of Indiana for forty years, promoting the importance of voting. She has worked on local and national campaigns, including Bill Clinton's 1996 presidential campaign and Barack Obama's 2004 Illinois senate campaign. On March 20, 2021 she will end her 15 year tenure as the Vice-Chair for the Indiana Democratic Party.
Ms. Cordelia has been honored as one of the City of Indianapolis's 100 most influential Black citizens and has received Indiana's highest honor, the Sagamore of the Wabash Award. She is also a recipient of the Rosa Parks award, Rosa Parks Trail Blazer Award, as well as the Sojourner Truth Award.
Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the outstanding achievements and remarkable life of an Indiana treasure, Mrs. Cordelia Lewis-Burks and extend our best wishes for her future endeavors.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 49
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