Recognizing the Honorable Jennifer Vidrine, Mayor of the City of Ville Platte, and Newly Appointed Board President of the Louisiana Municipal Association As the First African American Woman

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to an outstanding, cherished public servant from my home State of Louisiana. My dear friend and the mayor of the City of Ville Platte, Jennifer Vidrine, will soon take the top leadership position of the Louisiana Municipal Association (LMA) as the first African-American woman Board President. The LMA was established in 1926 and is the strongest advocate for municipal government in my state. On July 30, it will become an even stronger and more effective organization with the installation of Mayor Vidrine as president.

This is one of many ``firsts'' she is known for. In 2011, she was elected the first woman and African-American mayor of her fine city where today she continues to provide sound and caring leadership. Mayor Vidrine is a skilled and dedicated municipal leader with a deep passion for the residents she serves. On any given day, you will find Mayor Vidrine meeting with constituents about an array of issues affecting the elderly and youth, inspecting city utilities, sharing ideas with business leaders, and visiting local schools. Her phone never stops ringing. She encourages residents to call her directly on her cell phone, and they do. She frequently utilizes a telephone messaging service to keep residents informed on issues ranging from severe weather warnings, boil advisories, local sporting events, and the all- important annual celebrations like the city's Smoked Meat and Louisiana Cotton festivals.

She was one of the first mayors to provide free testing and vaccinations during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Working with state and federal officials, Mayor Vidrine was steadfast in instituting sound local ordinances to keep her community safe and provided critical personal protection equipment. She is an eloquent speaker who knows how to educate and motivate those of us in positions that can help navigate the federal bureaucracy. She never hesitates to speak up on behalf of the smaller towns and villages of our state giving them a voice of care and concern. She is an absolute force to be reckoned with each time she travels to Capitol Hill as one of the LMA's chief advocates for local government issues.

Madam Speaker, it is a distinct honor for me to recognize this great leader and advocate for our great State of Louisiana, The Honorable Jennifer Vidrine in such a public way. I am confident she will have a significant and lasting impact on the LMA for years to come. I am extremely proud to call her my dear friend and now, Madam President.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source