Resolution would name American Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, after Leland

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson today introduced legislation to name the American Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the “Mickey Leland United States Embassy Building.”  Congressman Leland represented the 18th Congressional District of Texas from 1979 until 1989, when he died in a plane crash in Ethiopia.  During his six terms, he found the House Select Committee on Hunger, served as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and participated in humanitarian missions around the world.

“Congressman Leland was a steadfast and inspiring leader on the issue of hunger in the United States and around the world,” Congresswoman Johnson said.  “He died as he lived, bringing attention to the plight of refugees in a part of the world that sorely needed our help.

“I count myself as lucky to have served with Congressman Leland.  Mickey Leland was a dear friend of mine, and I am honored to commemorate him today.”

Congressman Leland was born George T. Leland in 1944, in Houston, Texas.  As a Member of Congress, Congressman Leland represented the neighborhood in which he was raised.

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.