house resolution no.238

The Speaker, on behalf of the entire membership of the House of Representatives, offered the following resolution:

A resolution of tribute offered as a memorial for Barbara-Rose Collins, former member of the Michigan House of Representatives and the United States House of Representatives.

Whereas, It is with great sorrow that the members of the House of Representatives learned about the passing of Barbara-Rose Collins. A lifelong resident of Detroit, she will be remembered as a dedicated public servant devoted to the residents of the 21^st District; and

Whereas, A graduate of Detroit's Cass Technical High School, Barbara-Rose Collins attended Wayne State University, where she majored in political science and anthropology. Representative Collins became inspired by public service after attending a historic speech on Black freedom and grassroots activism in Detroit; and

Whereas, Representative Collins started her public career in 1971 when she was elected to the Detroit Public School Board. She then successfully ran for the Michigan House of Representatives in 1974 and served for seven years. Legislation she sponsored over her tenure, including Public Acts to require last date of sale on perishable foods, establish guidelines for birth control education in schools, and prohibit discrimination against women in insurance coverage by employers, demonstrated her commitment to social justice and equality. In addition, she served on the Constitutional Revision and Women's Rights, House Policy, Public Health, and Urban Affairs committees; and

Whereas, As the first Black Congresswoman from Michigan, Barbara-Rose Collins continued her fight for safety and equality for vulnerable populations.  She represented the Detroit area in Congress for three terms from 1991 to 1996. During that time, she raised awareness of food deficiencies in urban areas and protested for the rights of Haitian refugees. Her legislative efforts focused on what she termed "city issues" of crime, homelessness, poverty, and domestic and other types of violence; and

Whereas, In addition to her service in the Michigan House of Representatives and Congress, Representative Collins also served on the Detroit City Council from 1982 to 1990 and 2001 to 2009; and

Whereas, While working hard as an elected official, Barbara-Rose Collins continued to advocate for her community in other capacities, including as commissioner of the Humans Rights Commission of Detroit and as chair of the Detroit City Council Task Force on Teenage Violence; and

Whereas, Described as a trailblazer and pioneer, Barbara-Rose Collins was devoted to her work. She deftly balanced her passion for her constituents with effective problem-solving skills. She could spar with her colleagues on a particular topic and then jovially invite them to dinner afterwards. Her ability to balance the business aspects of work with social relationships made her an effective champion for the downtrodden, and she will remain a role model for young women interested in pursuing public office; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we offer this expression of our highest tribute to honor the memory of Barbara-Rose Collins, a member of the House of Representatives from 1975 to 1981 and the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 1996; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Collins family as evidence of our lasting esteem for her memory.