[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 11 (Tuesday, February 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    TRIBUTE TO MRS. ROSE MATSUI OCHI

                                 ______


                          HON. JULIAN C. DIXON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 8, 1994

  Mr. DIXON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to Mrs. 
Rose Matsui Ochi on the occasion of her recent retirement from the 
office of the mayor in Los Angeles. In recognition of her many years of 
outstanding and distinguished service to the citizens of Los Angeles, 
Rose was feted at an appreciation dinner in Los Angeles on December 15, 
1993. Rose is a remarkable woman who has surmounted innumerable 
obstacles to become a leader in efforts to advance the cause of social 
justice and ensure expanded opportunities for the citizens of Los 
Angeles. It is a personal pleasure to share with my colleagues just a 
few of her many accomplishments.
  Born in Los Angeles on December 15, 1938, Rose is the daughter of Mr. 
Roy Matsui and Mrs. Grace Matsui, immigrants from Japan. During World 
War II, Rose spent her formative years with her family in a detention 
camp for Japanese Americans in Arkansas. Once released from the camp, 
her family was subjected to the further indignities of deportation 
proceedings. Eventually, the Matsui family was allowed to stay in the 
United States, and resumed life in East Los Angeles.
  After graduating from high school with honors, Rose attended the Los 
Angeles Community College, where she received an associate arts degree. 
She was awarded her bachelor of science degree from the University of 
California [UCLA] and her master of arts degree from California State 
University. Fulfilling a childhood dream, Rose became a teacher in East 
Los Angeles, where she observed first hand the lack of educational 
opportunities facing her students. Feeling the need to more effectively 
influence the quality of education, Rose enrolled in the Loyola School 
of Law to secure the tools necessary to accomplish that goal. She 
received her juris doctor in June 1972, and passed the California bar 
in December of that year.
  Accepted as a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow upon her graduation from 
Loyola, Rose worked as a staff attorney for the University of Southern 
California's Western Center on Law and Poverty. During her tenure with 
this center, Rose served as co-counsel in the Serrano versus Priest 
case, which challenged California's state system of school finance.
  In 1974, Rose joined Mayor Tom Bradley's administration, and within a 
year, was promoted to the director of the criminal justice planning 
office and executive assistant to the mayor. In this capacity, Rose 
coordinated the administration of justice policy and advised the mayor 
on criminal justice, drug and legal issues. Rose was instrumental in 
developing policies and programs that made the Los Angeles city 
government more responsive to women's and civil rights issues. She 
drafted the charter to establish the status of women's commissions, 
created a domestic violence prosecution unit and shelter facilities, 
implemented hate violence policies, and initiated anti-gang and anti-
drug programs. She also served as an advisor to the Los Angeles Police 
Department, a member of the mayor's task force on gang violence, a 
participant of the central city association criminal prevention 
advisory board, and the crime policy speaker for the southern 
California advisory committee.

  Rose is an active member of numerous national and community 
organizations, including the United Way, Los Angeles 2000 Partnership 
Ethnic Diversity Task Force, Center for Human Rights and Constitutional 
Law, the Ethnic Coalition, the Japanese-American Citizens League, and 
the Immigration and Refugee Policy Forum. She has been a member of the 
Los Angeles County Bar Association since 1972, and was the first Asian 
American to serve on its board of trustees.
  In addition, Rose is the recipient of the U.S. Department of Justice 
Distinguished Public Service Award and Certificate of Appreciation, as 
well as the Los Angeles City Council Domestic Violence Contribution 
Award. Her works have been recognized by the Los Angeles Unified School 
District, the Constitutional Rights Foundation, the National Women's 
Political Caucus, the Human Relations Commission and the Los Angeles 
Youth Advisory Council. Rose was also appointed to a Presidential 
Commission on Immigration during President Jimmy Carter's tenure.
  In light of Rose's extensive knowledge, experience, and proficiency 
in criminal justice matters, she has testified before congressional 
hearings on narcotics, government efficiency and juvenile justice. She 
also was chosen as a panelist for the national governor's gang 
conference legislative strategy, and a representative for the law 
enforcement community leaders' summit. In recognition of her 
distinguished accomplishments, Rose has been nominated by President 
Clinton to be the Associate Director, Bureau of State and Local Affairs 
in the office of the National Drug Central Policy.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
join me in saluting Mrs. Rose Matsui Ochi on her many years of 
dedicated service to the citizens of Los Angeles. Rose has been an 
inspiration to those of us who have known and worked with her. I am 
pleased to join her family, friends, and colleagues in recognizing her 
service, commitment, and outstanding leadership.

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