Recognizing Ms. Suzette Cowell's Community Achievement

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Black History month this February, I rise today to recognize the lifetime of work of a precious local champion for the African American community in my hometown of Toledo, Ohio, Ms. Suzette Cowell.

Suzette Cowell is the founding member and CEO of Toledo's Urban Federal Community Development Credit Union. This specialized credit union was created with a vision to help generate economic development and new opportunity. Suzette introduced fair credit to neighborhoods which had never experienced either before. In this locale, predatory lenders and financial loan sharks suck the lifeblood out of people and neighborhoods.

With decades of experience in the financial arena, Ms. Cowell is a pioneering leader in Toledo--and has led this credit union into the multi-million-dollar community development institution it is today. This credit institution is a model for financial development and community development across our Nation.

Her insight into the unmet needs and systemic issues that precipitated the founding of this successful credit union are essential to understanding America's history, and our Nation must build up to ensure all our residents are uplifted. No place in America should be absent the credit and credit counseling the Federal Urban Credit Union provides.

I thank Suzette fo her astounding faith-filled leadership and opportunity she and her board and colleagues brought to our Toledo community.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source