[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 40 (Thursday, March 21, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H2657-H2659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING HELEN RUDEE AND ELIZABETH TERWILLIGER DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY 
                                 MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California [Ms. Woolsey] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, first of all I would like to thank my 
colleagues and good friends for organizing this Women of the Year 
special order as part of our Women's History Month celebration.
  Madam Speaker, I come to the floor of the House this evening to honor 
two outstanding women, Helen Rudee and Elizabeth Terwilliger, from the 
Sixth Congressional District of California.
  When talking about Helen Rudee, it is hard not to sound repetitive 
because Helen Rudee was the first in just about everything she has 
done. Helen was the first woman president of the Santa Rosa Board of 
Education. She was the first woman on the Sonoma County Board of 
Supervisors. And she was the board's first chairwoman. In addition to 
her outstanding record in elected office, Helen raised four children 
and participated in just about every volunteer organization in Sonoma 
County.
  This year, Helen is the recipient of the Konocti Girl Scout Council 
Jewel of a Woman Award for sharing her leadership skills with other 
young women in our community. It is truly fitting that we recognize 
Helen during Women's History Month. Helen Rudee is a woman who has made 
history, and she continues to make history.
  I am also proud to honor Elizabeth Terwilliger, a real life trail 
blazer, who in 1991 was the recipient of President George Bush's Points 
of Light Award.
  Long before environment became a household word, Elizabeth 
Terwilliger pioneered environmental education in Marin County. Now in 
her eighties, she continues to lead children, teachers, parents, and 
grandparents on hiking, canoeing, and bicycling adventures 6 days a 
week.
  Mrs. Terwilliger's tireless commitment to our environment has 
inspired other volunteers to form the nonprofit Terwilliger Nature 
Education Center. Where every year, over 65,000 San Francisco Bay Area 
children enjoy the spectacular beauty of Marin County's trails, 
marshes, and beaches because of the Terwilliger Center.
  Again, it is my great honor to recognize Helen Rudee and Elizabeth 
Terwilliger as 1996 Women of the Year. They have left an indelible mark 
on

[[Page H2658]]

Sonoma and Marin Counties, and their legacy will inspire generations to 
come.
  Madam Speaker, I yield now to the gentlewoman from New York, Carolyn 
Maloney.
  (Mrs. MALONEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Mrs. MALONEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I likewise join 
her in thanking Rosa DeLaruo and Lucille Roybal-Allard for organizing 
this special order in honor of women during Women's History Month.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor as my Woman of the Year a former 
Congressman, New York's tireless advocate for women, Bella Abzug. On 
behalf of women everywhere, I salute this remarkable woman, whose 
dedication and courage deserves recognition as we honor her and as we 
follow her lead.
  Bella, who was born the same year that women won the right to vote, 
has spent her entire life fighting for women's rights. As a Member of 
Congress she wrote the first law banning discrimination against women 
in obtaining credit, and she initiated an organization which has become 
known as the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues.
  Today, Bella continues her advocacy for women with her Women's 
Environment and Development Organization, a group which will soon 
introduce its Contract with American Women.
  Today, in a Congress far more hostile to women's rights than any I 
can remember, I will do what Bella would appreciate the most, honor her 
spirit by reminding our adversaries that we will refuse to lose. We 
will succeed in overcoming the anti-women actions of this Congress 
because we have millions of women with us across this country.
  Madam Speaker, we will succeed, because brave women Like Bella Abzug 
have taught us how to succeed.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor, as my ``woman of the year'', 
former Congresswoman and tireless advocate for women's rights--Bella 
Abzug.
  On behalf of women everywhere, I salute this remarkable woman, whose 
dedication and courage deserve recognition--as we honor her, and, as we 
follow her lead.
  Bella, who was born the same year women won the right to vote, has 
spent her entire life fighting for women's rights.
  As a member of Congress, she wrote the first law banning 
discrimination against women in obtaining credit; and, she initiated 
what became known as the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues.
  Today, Bella continues her advocacy for women with her Women's 
Environment & Development Organization [WEDO], a group which will soon 
introduce it's ``Contract with American Women.''
  Today, in a Congress far more hostile to women's rights than any I 
remember, I will do what I think Bella would appreciate the most--honor 
her spirit by reminding our adversaries that we refuse to lose.
  We will succeed in overcoming the anti-woman actions of this Congress 
because we have women like Bella with us.
  Madam Speaker, We will succeed, because brave women like Bella Abzug 
have taught us how to succeed.
  From every possible forum, Bella Abzug has spent her entire life 
fighting for women's rights.
  In 1970, Bella became the first woman to run for and win a seat in 
Congress on a women's rights and peace platform.
  Her term in office was far too short--only 6 years. But, her 
accomplishments however, were many.
  She wrote the first law banning discrimination against women in 
obtaining credit, loans, and mortgages. She introduced precedent-
setting bills on comprehensive child care, social security for 
homemakers, abortion rights, and Gay rights. One of the earliest votes 
Bella cast was to approve the Equal Rights Amendment, and, she 
introduced a resolution proclaiming August 26th Women's Equality Day. 
The resolution was approved and signed into law by President Nixon.
  Bella's work in and outside of Congress led to her national and 
international renown as a forceful and tenacious organizer of women. 
She held the first planning sessions for the National Women's Political 
Caucus [NWPS] in her office, and, in 1971 became its first co-Chair. 
Since its inception, the NWPC has been a major force in recruiting 
women to run for office; in maintaining a database of women in 
politics; and in putting women's issues on the national and 
international agendas.
  Today, Bella has turned her attentions to women's rights in the 
global arena. Bella is the Co-founder of the Women's Environment & 
Development Organization [WEDO]. WEDO is an international network which 
organizes women to help save the planet from worsening environmental 
threats, and from pollution and poverty.
  As co-Chair of WEDO, Bella presided over the World Women's Congress 
for a Healthy Planet, held in Miami in 1991. The women's agenda which 
emerged from that Congress became the focus of activities used in 
connection with preparations for the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 
1992, which Bella and WEDO leaders from around the world participated 
in.
  Most recently, I am pleased to say that Bella was a key organizer at 
the extremely successful Fourth U.N. World Conference on Women in 
Beijing, China in September of 1995. I was proud to join Bella in 
Beijing, and I am proud to continue working with her to ``Bring Beijing 
Home.'' Bella and the WEDO network continue to work at the United 
Nations, organizing women's caucus meetings at subsequent major 
international conferences of particular concern to women.
  Bella's international work has been recognized as crucial to the 
inclusion of women's perspectives, demands, and participation in 
policy-making in U.N. platforms for action and resulting programs.
  Madam Speaker, in honoring Bella Abzug here today, it is impossible 
to include all the contributions she has made to the advancement of 
women's rights. So, we must merely recognize and honor the enormity of 
her life's work. And, we must take up her baton to ensure continuation 
of her work--especially in this 104th Congress, the most hostile 
Congress to women's rights in my memory.
  We face a great deal more than the 104th Congress' hostility toward 
women. We must also face the following facts: 96 percent of our 
country's top executives are males; the more a professional field is 
dominated by women, the lower the pay scale; women are the sole 
breadwinners in more than 25 percent of the world's families; and 
prostitution and pornography are the only industries in which women 
earn more than men.
  Today, I rise to inform this Congress that in the honor and spirit of 
Bella Abzug, whom I put forward as my ``Woman of the Year,'' that we 
refuse to lose.
  We will succeed in enacting legislation which will counter the anti-
woman actions of the extremists of the 104th Congress. We will succeed 
in enacting pro-woman legislation because women like Bella have blazed 
the way. We will succeed because over 150 years of women who faced 
greater obstacles than we do did not give up.
  We will succeed because Bella succeeded before us. We will succeed 
because of those that fought before her. We will succeed because we 
have a perpetual and ever-forward looking movement of women righting 
relentlessly for equal rights.
  We will follow Bella's lead, and remind ourselves that, ``It's up to 
the women!''
  Mr. FRAZER. Madam Speaker, I rise to address the House on this very 
important special order celebrating March as Women's History Month. 
First, I want to thank the distinguished Member from California, Ms. 
Woolsey, for holding this special order.
  It gives me great pride to celebrate the accomplishments of an 
outstanding African-American educator from St. Croix, VI, Mrs. Eulalie 
Rohlsen Rivera. Mrs. Eulalie Rohlsen Rivera was born August 2, 1909, in 
Frederiksted, St. Croix. She earned her assistant-grade teachers 
license in 1932 and her principal license in 1934. Mrs. Rivera grew up 
in the Ebenezer Orphanage on St. Croix. During her teens she was 
assigned to teach the kindergarten class. This assignment launched her 
teaching career. She briefly taught at the Christiansted Kindergarten 
and later at the Diamond School from there she went on to teach at La 
Princesse School and the Claude Markoe School were she remained until 
her retirement in 1974.
  Mrs. Rivera is truly a great civic leader. She gave of her time and 
talents to such organizations as the Women's League of St. Croix, 
Frederiksted Democratic Club, Frederiksted Hospital Auxiliary, Lutheran 
Church Sunday School, St. Croix Business and Professional Women's Club, 
League of Women Voters of St. Croix, Committee on Aging, and the 
Friends of Denmark.
  In 1967 Mrs. Rivera was named ``Woman of the Year'' by the 
Frederiksted Business and Professional Women's Club and ``Teacher of 
the Year'' at the Claude O. Markoe School.
  On February 19, 1974 the Legislature of the Virgin Islands renamed 
the Grove Place Elementary School, the Eulalie Rivera School. In 1980, 
still striving to make a difference in the lives of children and 
teachers in the Virgin Islands, Mrs. Rivera ran for Virgin Islands 
Board of Education in 1982 and won. She served two terms, one term as 
vice chairman of the board. She retired from the board in 1985 but 
returned to serve two additional terms.
  Mrs. Rivera is a prime example of dedicated public service and civil 
leadership. It is this legacy which makes her an outstanding African-
American female.
  Mr. FRAZER. Madam Speaker, I rise to address the House on this very 
important special order celebrating March as Women's History Month. 
First, I want to thank the distinguished Member from California, Ms. 
Woolsey, for holding this special order.
  It gives me great pride to celebrate the accomplishments of an 
outstanding African-American educator from St. Croix, VI, Mrs. Eulalie 
Rohlsen Rivera. Mrs. Eulalie Rohlsen Rivera was born August 2, 1909, in 
Frederiksted, St. Croix. She earned her assistant-grade teachers 
license in 1932 and her principal license in 1934. Mrs. Rivera grew up 
in the Ebenezer Orphanage on St. Croix. During her teens she was 
assigned to teach the kindergarten class. This assignment launched her 
teaching career. She briefly taught at the Christiansted Kindergarten 
and later at the Diamond School from there she went on to teach at La 
Princesse School and the Claude Markoe School were she remained until 
her retirement in 1974.
  Mrs. Rivera is truly a great civic leader. She gave of her time and 
talents to such organizations as the Women's League of St. Croix, 
Frederiksted Democratic Club, Frederiksted Hospital Auxiliary, Lutheran 
Church Sunday School, St. Croix Business and Professional Women's Club, 
League of Women Voters of St. Croix, Committee on Aging, and the 
Friends of Denmark.
  In 1967 Mrs. Rivera was named ``Woman of the Year'' by the 
Frederiksted Business and Professional Women's Club and ``Teacher of 
the Year'' at the Claude O. Markoe School.
  On February 19, 1974 the Legislature of the Virgin Islands renamed 
the Grove Place Elementary School, the Eulalie Rivera School. In 1980, 
still striving to make a difference in the lives of children and 
teachers in the Virgin Islands, Mrs. Rivera ran for Virgin Islands 
Board of Education in 1982 and won. She served two terms, one term as 
vice chairman of the board. She retired from the board in 1985 but 
returned to serve two additional terms.
  Mrs. Rivera is a prime example of dedicated public service and civil 
leadership. It is this legacy which makes her an outstanding African-
American female.
  Madam Speaker, it gives me great pride to celebrate the 
accomplishments of another outstanding African-American educator from 
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Ms. Jane Eliza Tuitt.
  Ms. Tuitt was born in Hanna's Rest, St. Croix on January 8, 1908. Her 
education started in the public school system of St. Croix, but at the 
age of 8 she was sent to Antigua, to attend the Thomas Oliver Robinson 
Memorial School, the cultural center of the West Indies. After 
graduation at the age of 10, she returned to St. Thomas to continue her 
secondary education. In 1931, she entered Hampton University and earned 
a bachelors degree, and later returned to receive a Masters Degree from 
Columbia University in New York. She continued her advanced studies at 
Cornell University and New York University.
  Ms. Tuitt dedicated her entire adult life, to the education of the 
young people in the Virgin Islands. Her professional career in 
education started in 1923 as an elementary school teacher in St. 
Thomas. In 1935, she accepted the principalship of Christiansted 
Grammar School, but after three months she journeyed to St. Thomas 
where she joined the faculty of Charlotte Amalie High School as a 
science teacher. Climbing the educational ladder, she served as 
Supervisor of Elementary Education, from 1945-47, Assistant 
Superintendent of Education of St. Thomas 1947-55, director of 
Elementary Schools 1955-56, Acting Commissioner of Education 1956-58, 
and Assistant Commissioner of Education 1958-63, and Commissioner of 
Education from 1963-66.
  In 1966, she left the Department of Education to become Associate 
Dean at the University of the Virgin Islands, where she also served as 
chair of the Teacher Education Division and Professor of Education. She 
retired from the university in 1971.
  Ms. Tuitt was an outstanding role model for teachers and students in 
the Virgin Islands. Her legacy and contributions to education have been 
noted by Hampton University, by awarding her outstanding Alumnae. She 
also, established Jane E. Tuitt Scholarship Fund, at the University of 
the Virgin Islands, which is awarded to students in teacher education, 
nursing, business, science mathematics, social science, and the 
humanities.

[[Page H2659]]

  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I rise to thank Congresswoman Roybal-
Allard and Congresswoman DeLauro for providing this opportunity for us 
to highlight women who have had an impact on our lives and on the lives 
of others in our communities and in our Nation. Today we are here to 
honor a Woman of the Year, someone who we know to be an exceptional 
person from our district, who we seek to recognize for her leadership 
in a particular issue or field.
  I am so proud and delighted to honor Ms. Kai Parker from Gardena, CA, 
in my district. Ms. Parker is an advocate for children, an activist in 
the community, a member of several boards and commissions, and a 
political appointee--serving as the Gardena Human Resources 
Commissioner.
  Kai Parker has devoted her life to helping people reach their highest 
potential, from young children to seniors. In her current position as 
executive office coordinator of the Special Projects Bureau of 
Operations within the Department of Children Services in the County of 
Los Angeles, she has worked tirelessly to serve the children of 
Gardena, specifically children who come from foster homes. She has 
developed numerous, highly successful programs to develop skills and 
instill pride in people who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Kai, 
herself, was raised in public housing, overcoming many obstacles along 
the way to her success. So she knows how self-respect can empower 
people to work hard and take them as far as they can go.
  I had the opportunity to visit one of Kai's programs in Gardena 
called the African-Centered Saturday School. This program aims to 
provide a safe, nurturing environment for children who have been 
directed into the child custody system. Many of these children have 
been placed in protective custody, in a foster home, or with relatives, 
to distance them from parents who harmed them or who could not properly 
care for them. These are not bad kids, they are just unsafe. Many have 
experienced severe physical and emotional abuse, neglect, abandonment, 
poverty, substance abuse, developmental disabilities, educational 
handicaps, and many other serious social disorders. Yet, oftentimes, 
they still love their parents and do not understand what is happening 
to them. Kai has worked to decrease their trauma by loving them and 
empowering them to help themselves and turn their lives around.
  Let me tell you about this program which serves 35 children between 
the ages of 6 months and 13 years. Those who attend Saturday School 
every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. receive academic instruction and 
tutoring, nutritious meals, and health care. They participate in field 
trips, special community events, recreation, and cultural activities. 
And this program is almost totally privately funded (after a jump-start 
from the city of Gardena).

  One of the most important features of Saturday School is that the 
children are exposed to and encouraged to learn more about the African 
culture. They are taught about their African ancestors and their 
traditions and food, they learn Swahili, and through that they develop 
a sense of nobility, which in turn highlights their self-esteem. This 
program enriches their knowledge of their culture and of themselves. It 
seeks to instill pride in them so that, throughout their lives, the 
children will have a strong sense of who they are, as well as a vision 
of where they may want to go in their future.
  Kai Parker's program, in only 2 years, has visibly developed and 
empowered the inner-city children it is designed to assist, as well as 
the community. It has brought together the whole Los Angeles community, 
or village, to help create whole citizens of these wonderful kids. From 
the donated church space to the tutoring offered by members of the Los 
Angeles Board of Education, community members from all walks of life 
volunteer to protect children. Thank you so much, Kai Parker, for 
creating this exemplary, highly successful program, and for all your 
inspirational work on behalf of our community.
  One more thing. I am proud to say that Kai and I both work together 
as members of the Black Women's Forum. She has too many credentials and 
awards to list, but I must say that her efforts in helping welfare 
children and troubled youth through her many successful programs, from 
Saturday School to Summer Youth Institute Camps, have changed many 
lives. I commend her efforts to improve people's lives and am honored 
to name her my ``Woman of the Year'' from the 35th district of 
California.
  Mr. FROST. Madam Speaker, as part of Women's History Month, I am 
pleased to have the opportunity to select Mrs. Izean Davidson, of Fort 
Worth, TX, as Woman of the Year.
  Mrs. Izean Davidson, a life long Texan, has spent 42 years as an 
educator in the Texas public school system, serving as a classroom 
teacher and reading specialist. A leader in her community, Mrs. 
Davidson is a strong advocate for teaching the highest social and 
academic values to young adults. As a member of the Baker Chapel 
African Methodist Episcopal Church, she has worked tirelessly to 
implement programs which build self esteem and inspire young Texans.
  In addition, Mrs. Davidson has participated in various organizations, 
boards and committees, including: the Fort Worth Mayor's Council, NAACP 
Board of Directors, Delegate to the National Democratic Convention for 
three successive terms, and Fort Worth Commission of the Status of 
Women.
  It is an honor and a privilege to know Mrs. Izean Davidson. Clearly, 
her hard work and dedication to public service have improved the lives 
of many people in Fort Worth as well as in the State of Texas. I am 
proud to recognize Mrs. Davidson's contribution to women's history 
during this special month.
  Mr. STOKES. Madam Speaker, I want to express my appreciation to our 
colleague, the gentle lady from the District of Columbia, Eleanor 
Holmes Norton, for leading this important special order. This evening, 
she has reserved time so that we can have meaningful dialogue on the 
issue of women, wages, and jobs. It is a topic of paramount importance 
to this Congress and the Nation.
  As I join my colleagues this evening, I am reminded that many years 
ago, a widowed mother scrubbed floors to earn a living and to provide 
an education for her two sons. Trying to balance raising a family and 
working a low-paying job, I recall that the family endured many 
hardships and struggles. This woman was my mother, Louise Stokes. As I 
join you today, I would like to remind my colleagues that women 
continue to face these same types of obstacles.
  I am disappointed that this Republican-controlled Congress which came 
to Capitol Hill armed with its ``Contract with America'' and ``Personal 
Responsibility'' initiatives has not only neglected women, but they 
have sought to destroy decades of progress. During this Congress, we 
have been forced to defend womens' rights. We have fought to protect 
the programs which impact the lives of women and their families, 
including school lunch and child care programs, tax incentives for 
working families, and the elimination of the glass ceiling so that 
women and minorities can advance in the workplace.

  Mr. Speaker, the issue of women in the workplace is particularly 
significant. In greater numbers, in more occupations, and for more 
years of their lives than ever before, today's women constitute nearly 
half of our Nation's work force. Unfortunately, they are still earning 
considerably less than their male counterparts. Although the passage of 
the equal pay act in 1963 attempts to ensure equal wages for men and 
women, in today's market, a woman earns 71 cents for every dollar of 
her male counterpart. Further, despite increased access to higher 
education, women with a college education earn, on the average, only 
slightly more than men with a high school diploma, and they earn about 
$10,000 a year less than men with comparable education.
  While we focus tonight's special order on the status of women, we are 
reminded of how their lives touch the lives of millions of America's 
children. If we look at statistics, never has the number of working 
women with young children been higher--67 percent of women with 
children under the age of 18 are working or seeking employment. As 
such, child care is of paramount concern to working women and to women 
interested in entering the work force.
  As you may know, this issue greatly affects our Nation's low-income 
women. In fact, the Republican welfare reform proposal, H.R. 4, 
includes provisions which would cause major reductions in child care 
funding. This would have a devastating impact on the ability of single 
parents to become employed. If we are serious about ending welfare, 
then we must be willing to make the investment and provide the vehicle 
that is so necessary to achieving this goal. To do anything less is an 
injustice to our children.
  Mr. Speaker, I join Congresswoman Norton and others gathered in the 
House Chamber as we reaffirm our commitment to addressing the needs of 
women throughout the Nation. Pay equity, child care, and equality in 
the job market, are goals that can be and must be achieved. We stand 
today challenging our colleagues to join in this important effort.

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