[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 16, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H3394-H3395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 A WELCOME TO THE HONORABLE JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD AS A MEMBER OF 
                               THE HOUSE

  (Mr. BROWN of California asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor and 
privilege this morning, on behalf of the California delegation, to 
introduce the newest Member of Congress from the State of California. I 
hope that she will be the first in a series of new Members that will be 
elected from California.
  But before I yield briefly to the minority leader, I would like to 
note that Gus Hawkins is present to participate in this great activity, 
and before we begin to praise Juanita, may I just say about Gus 
Hawkins, my dear friend for the last 40 to 50 years, that he is the 
dean of all elected officials in the State of California, having served 
for 56 years continuously, half in this body and half in the State 
legislature, of course.
  Again, more appropriately, he is the first African-American to be 
elected from southern California, and this is the latest African-
American to be elected from southern California. And I think it is 
appropriate to note in such a brief period how much history has changed 
in California.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the minority leader for any introductory 
remarks he may wish to make.
  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, thanking Mr. Dean, Members of the House, I 
rise this morning on behalf of all of my Democratic colleagues and all 
of my colleagues to welcome the newest Member of the House of 
Representatives, Juanita Millender-McDonald of California.
  Many of our colleagues have begun their careers in local and State, 
city, town government and built their understanding of their districts 
and their communities from the bottom up, from the grass roots. But in 
the gentlewoman from California [Ms. Millender-McDonald], we have 
gained a colleague who has already used her talents as a State lawmaker 
to become a national leader.
  A former school teacher, Ms. Millender-McDonald has been an innovator 
on education policy, pushing for creative reforms in California's 
inner-city schools, such as better English instruction, tougher 
standards and

[[Page H3395]]

model school-to-work programs. That may be why she was appointed to the 
National Commission on Teaching in America's Future and the Education 
Committee of the States, where she serves as a powerful voice for 
California.
  She has also worked to start workshops all across the country to 
encourage broad education reform.
  But education is just one of the issues on which she has made her 
mark. From her seat in one of California's most diverse assembly 
districts, she fought for transportation improvements that are creating 
hundreds of new jobs, for child care, for grandparents raising their 
grandchildren, for the growth of high-tech business in California, for 
basic rights for the homeless, and for reform of California's workmen's 
compensation laws.
  When she became chair of California assembly's insurance committee, 
she was the first woman and the first minority to do so.
  When she became chair of the revenue and taxation committee, she was 
also the first woman to do that. She has blazed a trail of innovation 
and accomplishment on every issue that she has faced.
  My colleagues, not only have we gained a tireless and effective new 
champion for the 37th District of California, a woman with almost 
unlimited interests and abilities, we have also gained a sage and 
experienced legislator, and in keeping with her first career I believe 
she can teach us a great deal.
  Join me now, my colleagues, in welcoming our newest colleague, the 
gentlewoman from California [Ms. Millender-McDonald].
  Mr. BROWN of California. I am of course going to yield to the 
gentlewoman from California [Ms. Millender-McDonald] to make a brief 
response immediately, but are there any other Members from California 
who would like to say a word? If not, then I would now at this time 
again present the gentlewoman to talk and invite her under my 1-minute 
to respond briefly to the welcome that she has just received.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, Members, I am honored to 
represent the outstanding constituents of the 37th Congressional 
District, a district that mirrors America because it is one of the most 
diverse districts in the State of California. The constituents of the 
37th Congressional District are hard-working and share the same 
concerns with Americans about crime, jobs, security, taxes, health 
care, and the future.
  My constituents include my family, who have traveled afar to come 
here today for this very historic event, and I would like to have them 
acknowledged in the gallery.
  My campaign theme was to Choose Hope, and it drew inspiration from my 
grandchildren, Ayanna Demaris Thomas, and Myles Chandler McDonald. My 
promise to the constituents was that I would take Choose Hope to 
Washington because, for me, Hope represents the American agenda that 
speaks to opportunity to fulfill dreams, quality education, job 
preparation and training, but expands global work opportunities, job 
creation through business incentives and transportation projects while 
maintaining health security for seniors and protection for our 
children.
  I am also going to foster gender equity in health research projects. 
So I have come today to work with you as a team so that we can all 
forge an American agenda for all of the people of the United States as 
well as California in a bipartisan effort. I do welcome your support 
and thank you so much.

                          ____________________