THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT

The Honorable Cardiss Collins

September 24, 1931 – February 3, 2013

A Voice for Racial and Gender Equality

First African-American Congresswoman from Illinois. Among her many accomplishments, she was a supporter of equity in college athletics, assertive on affirmative action and minority employment issues, pushed through legislation in 1990 expanding Medicare coverage for mammography screening for older and disabled women, introduced resolutions designating October National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, wrote laws increasing safety labeling on toys, setting safety standards for bicycle helmets and expanding child care services for federal workers nationwide. 

Photo 1. With Senator Edward Kennedy, 1979 (AP Photo). Photo 2. With Jesse Jackson, 1980 (photo by John Duricka/AP).