Mr. Schiff: Mr. Speaker, I rise to today in great honor to ask the House of Representatives to pause to remember a former Member of Congress, George E. Brown, Jr, and to pay tribute to him and to the Monterey Park Democratic Club, which he helped found 50 years ago.
As a new Representative to Congress, I know that I stand on the shoulders of many giants who have come before me, including the longest serving Member of Congress in the history of my state--George Brown.
Fifty years ago, in his early thirties, George Brown had settled in the Los Angeles suburb of Monterey Park. With several other civicly-active residents, he helped found the Democratic Club of that community. George was its first President. Today, the Club is headed by President Irving Willner, a Club member for 48 years and its longest serving President at ``only'' 18 years of service.
From being Club President, George ran for public office. Like many here in this body, he lost his first race. But he had persistence and conviction, ran again, and was elected to the Monterey Park City Council, became Mayor, then was elected to the California State Assembly in 1958. He ran and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1962. In 1970, he left his House seat to run for the U.S. Senate. He lost in a close Democratic primary. He then ran again for the House in 1972, and won. And he continued to win. Even though he had some of the most consistently close races in the nation, George won 14 more times, winning his last race in 1998, before passing away in 1999. A tremendous electoral record.
George Brown had an impressive public policy record. He was known in Congress for his support for anti-poverty programs, for peace, for space and scientific advancement, and for civil rights and tolerance of diversity--a cause that he shared deeply with the Monterey Park Democratic Club.
George remains deeply remembered and appreciated in Monterey Park and by the past and current members of the Monterey Park Democratic Club. As social commentators have long noted about America, it is our freedom to form voluntary clubs and associations that keeps America vibrant and gives Americans a good part of our ability to exercise our political rights and participate in our political system. Through their 50 years of organizational life, the Monterey Park Democratic Club and its members have helped the people of Monterey Park become civicly active in the cause of a continually better city, a better nation, and a better world.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that the House of Representatives join me today in honoring the 50th anniversary of the Monterey Park Democratic Club and in paying tribute to their first president, the Honorable George E. Brown, Jr., and all the members of the Club.