Mickey Leland
Congressman, Houston, TX 1979-1990 |
George Thomas
“Mickey” Leland became famous as the
champion of healthcare rights. He built his political
reputation around health issues for poor people soon
after he won a seat in the Texas State Legislature in
1972. Before that, as a pharmacy student at Texas
Southern University (TSU), where he later taught
clinical pharmacy, he toured low-income neighborhoods
with nursing and medical students to inform families
about available medical services in local clinics
– information they would otherwise not have
had.
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“I am now an activist on behalf of humanity everywhere…. That is my community….” |
In 1978 Mr. Leland was elected
to the United States House of Representatives from
the 18th Congressional District of Houston, Texas. He
was re-elected to each succeeding Congress until his
death in 1989. The work for which he is best
remembered began when he chaired the House Select
Committee on Hunger, creating the National Commission
on Infant Mortality, which led to better access to
fresh food for at-risk women, children and infants,
and the first comprehensive services for the
homeless.
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