Congressman Elijah E. Cummings Proudly Representing Maryland's 7th District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2005

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Devika Koppikar
(202) 225-4741 or (202) 225-4025
Trudy Perkins
(410) 685-9199 or (202) 225-4741
Mike Christianson
(410) 685-9199 or (202) 225-9876

Legislation to Honor Three Outstanding Maryland Public Servants Passes Unanimously in Government Reform Committee

Washington, D.C. -- Today, by a unanimous voice vote, the House Committee on Government Reform passed legislation that would name three U.S. Post Offices in Baltimore in honor of distinguished Maryland citizens, Maryland State Delegate Lena K. Lee, Maryland State Senator Verda Welcome and Dr. Henry Welcome, and former U.S. Congressman Parren J. Mitchell.

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, who serves on the Government Reform Committee, introduced the bills (H.R. 4107, H.R. 4108, and H.R. 4109) to pay tribute to these individuals who share a legacy of distinguished public service and a unique devotion to the realization of America’s noble ideals of equality and justice.

"I believe that people should be recognized for their contributions to society," Congressman Cummings said. "Naming the post offices in honor of Delegate Lee, Senator Welcome and Dr. Welcome, and Congressman Mitchell is truly a salute to their remarkable accomplishments and commitment to public service."

In 1952, State Delegate Lena K. Lee became the third woman to receive her law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. In 1967, she began a fifteen-year term as the first African American female lawyer to serve in the Maryland House of Delegates. Because of her tireless efforts, she has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the Presidential Citation from the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education as well as membership into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame.

The late State Senator Verda Welcome and the late Dr. Henry Welcome were united in marriage and by their unique devotion to public service. Senator Welcome dutifully served Baltimore and the nation as an elected official, civil rights and community activist for decades. Earning a Bachelor’s degree from Morgan State College in 1939, she later taught in the Baltimore City Public Schools for eleven years. In 1959, Ms. Welcome became the first African American woman elected to the Maryland House of Delegates when she was chosen to represent the 4^th District of Baltimore City. Her trailblazing continued in 1962, when she became the first African American female state senator in the nation.

Dr. Henry Welcome was a devoted physician and community leader. He obtained his B.S. in 1932 from Straight College and his M.D. from Meharry Medical College in 1936. He went on to become a medical instructor at Provident Hospital and a member of the Maryland State Board of Higher Education. The Maryland Higher Education Commission honored him with the Henry C. Welcome Fellowship Grant Program.

In 1971, Parren Mitchell became Maryland’s first African American Congressman representing Maryland’s 7th Congressional District. During his tenure in Congress, he was a leading advocate for disadvantaged and minority business enterprises and worked to ensure their viability. Over his 16-year career in the House, he served as the Chairman of the Committee on Small Business and was a senior Democrat on the Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs Committee. Representative Mitchell was also a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

“The postal facilities named in honor of these distinguished individuals will serve to signify to the citizens of Maryland and generations yet unborn that the leadership and noteworthy achievements of a few committed citizens can change our communities and our nation for the better,” Congressman Cummings said.

A summary of the bills follow:

H.R. 4107: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1826 Pennsylvania Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, as the "Maryland State Delegate Lena K. Lee Post Office Building".

H.R. 4108: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3000 Homewood Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, as the "State Senator Verda Welcome and Dr. Henry Welcome Post Office Building".

H.R. 4109: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6101 Liberty Road in Baltimore, Maryland, as the "United States Representative Parren J. Mitchell Post Office".

These bills are now expected to be considered by the full House floor.

# # # #