Congresswoman Johnson Remembers Congressman Mickey Leland On The 25th Anniversary Of His Death

“It is hard to believe that it was 25 years ago today that my friend and mentor, Mickey Leland, passed away. He was a steadfast and caring leader from whom I learned so much, He made a lasting impact on Congress that has helped shaped our country’s focus to aid parts of the world that were suffering from extreme hunger. His legacy can be felt today through young leaders that are being trained in the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows Program at the Congressional Hunger Center in the nation’s capital. He died as he lived; bringing attention to the plight of refugees in a part of the world that sorely needed our help.

Congressman Mickey Leland was a transformative leader, not only in Texas but throughout the world. He began his political career by being elected to the Texas State Legislature from the city of Houston. Soon after his term began, Congressman Leland traveled to Africa and found the calling to which he would dedicate his life, ending hunger throughout the world.

Congressman Leland was elected to Congress in 1978 to represent the 18th Congressional District of Texas, filling the seat vacated by Congresswoman Barbara Jordan when she retired. He was a progressive leader that twice chaired the Congressional Black Caucus.  He also took his life’s mission to the halls of Congress where he helped to form the House Select Committee on World Hunger in 1984.

With the support of anti-hunger organizations, Congressman Leland was able to overcome opposition in the House of Representatives that argued that the Select Committee would be a waste of money, or would infringe upon the duties of existing committees. 

The Select Committee generated awareness within Congress regarding national and international hunger, and prompted a bipartisan effort to find solutions to end hunger in the U.S. and around the world. Congressman Leland also led numerous humanitarian trips with his Congressional colleagues, allowing them to witness firsthand the hunger crisis that was plaguing Sub-Saharan Africa. Due to his efforts, Congressman Leland was frequently called the “conscience of the House” by colleagues.

Congressman Leland made a lasting impact that can be felt today through the Congressional Hunger Center.  Former Democratic Congressman Tony Hall, a close friend of Congressman Leland and former chair of the House Select Committee on Hunger, joined Republican Representative Bill Emerson to form the bi-partisan Congressional Hunger Center in 1993. Soon after its formation, the Congressional Hunger Center established the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows Program to serve as a living legacy to Congressman Leland and his world-changing work to end hunger. The Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows Program trains emerging leaders during a two-year period to eradicate hunger worldwide. " - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson