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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E303]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BLACK HISTORY MONTH--BETTY REED
______
HON. KATHY CASTOR
of florida
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor beloved
community leader, Florida State Representative Betty Reed. She was
raised in Thomasville, Georgia, in a close-knit family of hardworking
sharecroppers and with 12 other siblings Representative Reed and her
husband, James, moved to Tampa after he was discharged from the
military to raise a family of their own.
Representative Reed was an active parent while her children attended
school, and her involvement grew over time in the Parent Teacher
Student Association, then the Hillsborough County Council of PTSA and
all the way to the Florida State PTA.
As her children became older, she was prompted to complete her own
high school diploma by attending night and weekend classes. Her
pursuits only grew over time--she earned an associate's degree from
Hillsborough Community College, then her bachelor's degree in
behavioral science from National Louis University.
Representative Reed's commitment to access to education grew as a
financial aid assistant for Education America (which eventually became
Remington College) and then as its director of financial aid. All the
while, she was active in her own community, becoming president of the
Lucy Dell Civic Association. But advocating for her community didn't
stop there. She was elected as a Florida State Representative for the
59th District, a seat she held until she was elected to represent the
61th District in 2012.
During her tenure as a Florida State Representative, she passed
meaningful legislation, including the Black Health Practice Initiative
(BIHPI, pronounced ``Bippy''), which passed both chambers of the
Florida Legislature without a single dissenting vote. With stark
disparities between the infant mortality rates of different races--in
some areas, the rate of black infant mortality was more than four times
the rate for whites--the legislation funded state grants to local
Healthy Start coalitions that served counties with significant
disparities: Hillsborough, Gadsden, Palm Beach, Orange, Broward, Duval,
Putnam and Miami-Dade. The University of South Florida and Florida
Agricultural & Mechanical University were selected to provide technical
assistance and scientific guidance. BIHPI produced positive outcomes
and was particularly meaningful due to the relationships built in
communities with the greatest needs. She also championed and helped to
secure state funding to help open numerous Tampa Family Health Centers
and expand the robust safety net of comprehensive health services to
medically underserved communities. Representative Reed passed
legislation to end shackling incarcerated pregnant women during labor,
delivery as well as postpartum, and legislation to provide additional
funds to combat homelessness throughout the state of Florida. In her
final two years, she served as the Democratic Ranking member of the
Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
Representative Reed is a compassionate leader, who immersed herself
in the challenges of her neighbors, and that allowed her to serve as a
strong advocate. Madam Speaker, on behalf of a grateful Tampa Bay
community, I am proud to recognize Representative Betty Reed for her
drive for meaningful progress on behalf of our children, students,
women, families and communities across the State of Florida.
____________________
