[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 50 (Thursday, April 18, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H3587-H3599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO SECRETARY RONALD H. BROWN AND AMERICANS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
ON MISSION TO BOSNIA
Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the immediate
consideration in the House of the resolution (H. Res. 406) in tribute
to Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown and other Americans who lost
their lives on April 3, 1996, while in service to their country on a
mission to Bosnia.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Quinn). Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from Missouri?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The clerk will report the resolution.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 406
Whereas Ronald H. Brown served the United States of America
with patriotism and skill as a soldier, a civil rights
leader, and attorney;
Whereas Ronald H. Brown devoted his life to opening doors,
building bridges, and helping those in need;
Whereas Ronald H. Brown lost his life in a tragic airplane
accident on April 3, 1996, while in service to his country on
a mission in Bosnia; and
Whereas thirty-two other Americans from government and
industry who served the Nation with great courage,
achievement, and dedication also lost their lives in the
accident: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives pays tribute to
the remarkable life and career of Ronald H. Brown, and it
extends condolences to his family.
Be it further resolved, That the House of Representatives
also pays tribute to the contributions of all those who
perished, and that we extend our condolences to the families
of: Staff Sergeant Gerald Aldrich, Duane Christian, Barry
Conrad, Paul Cushman III, Adam Darling, Captain Ashley James
Davis, Gail Dobert, Robert Donovan, Claudio Elia, Staff
Sergeant Robert Farrington, Jr., David Ford, Carol Hamilton,
Kathryn Hoffman, Lee Jackson, Steven Kaminiski, Katheryn
Kellogg, Technical Sergeant Shelley Kelly, James Lewek, Frank
Maier, Charles Meissner, William Morton, Walter Murphy,
Mathanial Nash, Lawrence Payne, Leonard Pieroni, Captain
Timothy Shafer, John Scoville, I. Donald Terner, P. Stuart
Tholan, Technical Sergeant Cheryl Ann Turnage, Naomi
Warbasse, and Robert Whittaker.
Sec. 2. The Clerk of the House shall transmit a copy of the
resolution to each of the families.
{time} 1030
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Quinn). The gentleman from Missouri [Mr.
Gephardt] is recognized for 1 hour.
Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
In a moment, I will yield to the distinguished Speaker of the House.
Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning with great sadness to offer a
resolution in tribute to Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and all of the
Americans who lost their lives in that awful tragedy on April 3 while
they were all serving their country on a mission to Bosnia. I am
pleased that we are able to make this a bipartisan resolution, in fact,
a resolution of all the Members of the House. For when a highly and
distinguished member of the U.S. Cabinet is killed overseas for the
first time in American history, when we lose an individual, and
individuals of such extraordinary ability and achievement, when we lose
so many other dedicated business leaders and public servants, members
of the Commerce Department, members of the U.S. Air Force, it is not a
partisan tragedy, it is truly a tragedy for all of our citizens and all
of our country.
In the week since Ron Brown's death, it has already become a cliche
to speak of his brilliant political and public service career. Of his
pioneering role as chairman of the Democratic Party and his efforts to
almost single-handedly redefine the Commerce Department and its
mandate. For those of us who considered Ron a friend, as I did, it is
reassuring to know that the country remembers him as fondly as we do.
But when there are so many tangible achievements to celebrate in a
man's life, it becomes harder to recognize what is less tangible but
perhaps as more important.
To me, there is a simple reason why Ron Brown broke down so many
barriers in so many areas and shattered so many preconceptions, about
politics, race, and America's place in the world. For all of his
practical and political talents, Ron Brown was an idealist, pure and
simple. His goals for himself, his party and his country were always
based on what should be and not on what others thought could be. This
is a rare quality in any of us, in a politician, a rate quality in a
human being. But it is why so many people loved and respected Ron Brown
and were so often willing to abandon their own goals and egos to work
with him for a higher purpose.
Mr. Speaker, much has been said in recent days about Ron Brown's
ability to heal divisions, to reconcile views, to focus on what unite
people rather than on what divide them. He truly believed that you
could always accomplish more by working together, by bringing others
along with you. That is one reason why he nurtured so much talent in so
many other people throughout his career. As party chairman, he really
did bring the Democratic Party together, something that is hard to do,
sometimes almost one person at a time.
To see the depth of his empathy and understanding, to see how far he
would go to understand people who disagreed with him and opinions and
then to find the common ground between them was to see the very essence
of leadership. Commerce Secretary Ron Brown dramatically expanded his
mandate, reinvigorating the foreign commercial
[[Page H3588]]
service and becoming a real booster of U.S. exports on a scale that we
have never seen before. He poured all of his passion and energy in his
work at Commerce, as he had at the Democratic Committee, and I always
admired the aggressive way in which he led that department, even in the
face of criticism.
Mr. Speaker, our country could use more Ron Browns, for he pushed
boundaries, broke down barriers almost instinctively, intuitively as if
he simply refused to acknowledge that they were there in the first
place. Perhaps in that sense, we can find a shred of meaning in Ron
Brown's death, because no risk, no naysayers could ever have kept him
from exploring new terrain, for reaching new challenges, and from
trying to redefine the world in which we live.
That he managed to do all of these things in so few years is a
powerful legacy indeed. I also want to reach out on behalf of all of us
to the families not only of Ron Brown but all of the Americans who died
in this terrible tragedy. All of them together, in their own way, were
trying to do something very important for the United States and for the
world. The business people who were out there were out there to help
rebuild an economy torn by war and strife.
Mr. Speaker, the truth is there was no real profit to be made by
these companies. They were there on a mission of the United States to
help the people of Bosnia. Unlike maybe many of the other trade
missions that Ron Brown asked them to be on, this one was truly a
mission of help. This was a mission of altruism in the highest sense of
the business community and the people of this country.
So to the families of all of these people, whether it was business
leaders, whether it is Ron Brown, whether it was the Air Force people
who were trying to take them there, whether it was the staff people at
Commerce, I want to reach out and deliver in as heartfelt a way as we
can the deep sympathy and the feeling of gratitude and appreciation
that all of us have for all of these people and their families.
There is no way that any of us can bring these lives back, but we can
at least stand here today and on behalf of the American people give a
heartfelt condolence of sympathy and heartfelt thanks and appreciation
for the sacrifice of all of the people who died in this terrible
tragedy.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished
Speaker of the House, the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Gingrich].
Mr. GINGRICH. Let me thank my colleague for yielding and let me thank
the minority leader for proposing this resolution which I think every
Member of the House will support and which I think every Member of the
House wishes to reach each family touched by this tragedy.
The House, I believe, will want to extend condolences to every member
of every family to realize that there were a number of Americans
serving their country, serving the cause of freedom, seeking to help a
war-torn region who found themselves willing to take real risks. This
tragedy is a reminder that service in our armed services and at times
service to our country is potentially dangerous and requires of our
citizens a willingness to put duty above pleasure and to put country
above self.
Mr. Speaker, Secretary Ron Brown is the first Cabinet Secretary
killed on duty in over 150 years. I think it was an enormous shock to
all of us to be reminded of the dangers traveling around the world that
can affect those who serve even in civilian posts. I knew Ron Brown as
a competitor. We did not meet in the same planning meetings. We were
not involved in the same things when he was chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, but I got to know him as somebody who was
brilliant, who was charming, who was energetic and, maybe more
important, who had a kind of creativity with a remarkable resilience.
Whatever angle you came at Ron from, he came back with a new idea, a
new approach, new intensity. He was a great competitor. I think that
both Lee Atwater before his death and Haley Barbour since have found in
Ron Brown a personal friend and somebody who shared their passion for
democracy and shared their zest for partisan competition.
It is true that Ron Brown was at times very controversial and a lot
of questions were raised, a lot of charges were made. Certainly, of all
the Members of the House, I may be the most able to identify with being
at the center of controversy at times. And I can say that every time we
would meet and we would talk, there was a positiveness to his approach.
There was an intensity and a willingness to live out whatever happened
and whatever fights he was in, a willingness to move forward, to focus
on getting things done that was quite remarkable.
At the Commerce Department, he traveled across the world, worked with
senior executives, did, I thought, remarkably creative things to create
American jobs through world sales. And again and again he would put
together a team, they would go to a country and he would achieve
breakthroughs for American workers and for American sales that had not
occurred before. In his last mission, as my good friend from Missouri
was pointing out, Ron Brown was on a selfless venture to help those who
needed help, to help those who sought peace, recognizing that as
Commerce Secretary, if he could help them begin to rebuild their
economies, he might be able to begin to rebuild their cultures, and
they might be able to find a way to seek prosperity together rather
than to destroy their region in war.
I think we in the House want Ron Brown's family and the families of
all of those who died in this accident to know that we are deeply
grateful for the commitment they made to freedom, to the willingness
they had to serve their country, and that our offices and our doors are
open, both to Secretary Brown's family, but equally important, to the
family of every American who was on that airplane, to the family of
every person who died in service to their country.
Again, I thank my friend for offering this resolution which I so
strongly support and which I would hope the House will pass unanimously
in just a few minutes.
Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Speaker for that fine
statement and urge all the Members to vote for this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Michigan
[Mr. Dingell] be allowed to manage the remainder of the time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Missouri?
There was no objection.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I first want to commend our distinguished minority
leader and the Speaker for introducing this important resolution and
for bringing it to the floor in this expeditious manner.
I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this resolution, which pays tribute
to Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and the other 33 Americans who lost
their lives in the tragic airplane crash on April 3.
In the past 2 weeks, we all have heard the tremendous accolades paid
to Secretary Brown for his numerous contributions to this Nation. He
was a great public servant, a loving husband and father, and a man who
brought tremendous enthusiasm, vision, humor, and intelligence to every
challenge he accepted.
The country is much better off because of Ron Brown. We have all
heard the many tributes from American business leaders who have called
him the best Secretary of Commerce in our Nation's history. These
statements were made well before his tragic death. As Secretary of
Commerce, Ron worked tirelessly and aggressively to create and protect
American jobs. Under his leadership, the Department delivered more for
less by making sensible investments in our communities, protecting
intellectual property rights, stimulating advances in technology and
telecommunications, increasing our competitiveness and exports, and
providing essential weather forecasting, research, and environmental
services.
I know many other Members with to speak this morning, so I will end
by simply saying farewell and thank you to my dear friend Ron Brown and
by extending my deepest condolences to his wife Alma, to his wonderful
children, and to the families and friends of the other Americans who
lost their lives in service to their country on April 3. The loss of
their collective talents will be felt for years to come.
[[Page H3589]]
{time} 1045
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished
gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Meek].
Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, first of all I would like to
thank, as a representative of the Congressional Black Caucus, to thank
the leader, the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Gingrich], to thank our
Speaker, and to say to our Speaker we thank him for bringing in the
bipartisan part of this resolution, and I thank him very much, Speaker
Gingrich, for adding this dimension to this resolution.
Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and the other Americans who lost
their lives on April 3 while in service to our country, they were true
patriots, and they deserve the honor which patriots should receive.
The Congressional Black Caucus thanks all of this House for
representing and paying a tribute to Secretary Brown. We also want to
thank Senator Bob Dole, who cosponsored the resolution in the Senate,
and 98 of his colleagues properly and officially honored, just as we
are doing, Secretary Brown and the other great Americans who died in
the service of their country.
We pay tribute to Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and the others. He was
the 30th U.S. Secretary of Commerce. He had been a strong and forceful
advocate for not only American business, but Ron Brown stretched all
out to the byways and the ghettos of this country, and they all had a
model to follow, regardless of race, color, or creed. He was a beacon
of hope for the divergent messages that make up this country.
Under Secretary Brown's leadership, the Commerce Department became
one of the major success stories in the Clinton administration. He
launched a national export strategy predicated on the very basic idea
that American exports translate into jobs and opportunities for
American business and working people. In the pursuit of this strategy,
Secretary Brown conducted trade mission after trade mission.
He was a tireless worker or soldier in the American Army. He had the
vision to see that beyond the horrors of war, behind the horrors of
war-torn Bosnia lay opportunities, not only for American business, but
for the Bosnian people. To be of service, he wanted to be, and he did
it as well as to engage in commerce.
Ron Brown was a common man with an uncommon touch who, while fighting
against this Nation's injustices, also believed he could be bettering
this Nation and that all people could be lifted up to reach their
highest potential. Because of Ron Brown, doors have been opened for
many Americans that were never evern cracked before.
The Congressional Black Caucus is grateful for Secretary Ron Brown's
legacy, which he left to all of us. He came from humble roots, but he
did not internalize his race or his color or his creed. He did not
internalize his humble beginnings. He made something out of each one.
He did not relate himself to the roles which society had defined for
him and others like him.
He was an unifying and driving force to indicate to all of us what a
public servant should be like. He knew what it meant to be one. He put
the needs of the American people ahead of his own. He lived for
America, and ultimately, Mr. Speaker, he gave his life for America.
So I want to thank this House for bestowing this tribute on Ron
Brown, and on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucuss I would like to
say, ``Thank you to all of you.''
Mr. DINGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from New York [Mr. Forbes].
Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, and
most importantly I rise in support to celebrate the life of the man
that we knew as Ron Brown.
I am a new Member of this body, going on my 15th month, and early in
my tenure Ron Brown reached out to me as one of those new freshmen
Members, those Republican freshmen Members of the Congress, because Ron
Brown, above all else, was the kind of man that built bridges, and,
yes, we know his service as a great politician, and I say that in the
most reverent and decent sense because he understood good politics, he
understood the art of compromise and building bridges.
Ron Brown was a people person, he was a good and decent man, and I am
so very honored to stand in this well with so many others who have come
to revere and respect Ron Brown and to have called him my friend.
Mr. Speaker, over the last 15 months we spent many moments together,
some of his more difficult personal moments. I was honored to have
spent some time over in his office with him, and, Mr. Speaker, Ron
Brown, as I said, was a tremendous individual, and he was a tremendous
public servant. He built the Commerce Department in a way that I think
few on either side of the aisle would dispute. It said that the work of
Ron Brown has sowed the seeds for about $44 billion in new economic
opportunity for American businesses as a result of his travels around
the globe to build partnerships with other nations.
As I said, he was a good and decent man, and we shared something else
in common: our love for a place on eastern Long Island called Sag
Harbor, and he spent many wonderful private moments there with his dear
wife, Alma, and with his children.
Mr. Speaker, Ron Brown, as I say, will be sorely missed. He was a man
of good humor, good decency, and we reached out and spoke with each
other many, many times over the last 15 months.
I disagree with some who think that, for example, we should change
the way the Commerce Department is set up. I disagree with that, and
Ron understood that, and we talked at great length about that.
I shared his interest in the National Marine Fishery Service, which
was one of the many agencies under his charge at the Department of
Commerce, and they did tremendous things, the National Marine Fishery
Service, something again that we had in common with my eastern Long
Island district, and, as I have acknowledge, he has built tremendous
bridges across the world on behalf of all Americans in the area of
international trade particularly, and during my last 15 months in this
body I have heard repeatedly, long before the tragedy, of the
tremendous accomplishments of the Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown, in
the area of exporting.
So I rise today in support of the resolution. I extend to the family
of Ron Brown, to his dear wife, Alma, and his children, Tracy and
Michael, and to all of the families of the 33 others whom we lost in
the tragedy earlier this month, I extend our condolences, our heartfelt
sympathies, and our prayers and thoughts are with all of you.
I stood in this well several evenings ago and made note of another
individual whom we lost in this tragedy from my district, young Gail
Dobert, who served with Ron Brown in his chairmanship of the Democratic
National Committee, and with excitement and great promise went with him
over to the Department of Commerce and served so ably to help build
this international presence that Ron made possible.
So I rise in support of this resolution, and I appreciate the House
taking this time today to celebrate the life of Ron Brown. He was a
good and decent man.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished
gentlewoman from Connecticut [Mrs. Kennelly].
Mrs. KENNELLY. Mr. Speaker, today we honor a dear friend and a great
leader, the late Commerce Secretary, Ron Brown.
Every so often, fortunately, our country produces someone who reminds
us of the hope, energy, and optimism that are the very essence of being
an American. Ron Brown was such a person. He was a vital man--vital in
his love of life, and vital in the energy that he brought to his work.
Those of us who had the joy of working with Ron Brown know the total
dedication he brought to any job. Verve, style, and sheer energy were
his hallmarks.
But beyond that dazzling surface lay an intellect of great depth in
understanding the forces at work in the world today. He knew that in an
increasingly complex and competitive world, Government officials must
fight to gain a fair share of foreign projects and markets for U.S.
goods. So Ron Brown pioneered commercial diplomacy. From his first day
at the Commerce Department to his last tragic
[[Page H3590]]
flight, Ron Brown proved himself to be the best advocate American
business ever had. Against the world's toughest competition, he
championed our country's industries, workers, and products. He
pioneered commercial diplomacy from his first day at Commerce to his
last, tragic flight.
Ron Brown proved himself to be a strong voice for American business
and for all Americans. Against the world's toughest competition, he
championed our country. His knowledge, his good will, and his
commitment to this country will all be missed deeply. With my
colleagues, I send my deepest sympathy to his family.
But, Mr. Speaker, on a personal note, I just want to speak about Ron
Brown as I knew him. He had something that always had me in awe. When
Ron Brown talked to you, you thought he cared about you.
The last time I talked to Ron Brown was a week before he went on his
trip. My colleagues would have thought this terribly busy man was
waiting for my call. And my call was a request, another request of so
many requests, to take up part of his very important time.
My sympathy to his family, my sympathy to the United States of
America, because he is gone.
Ron, your thousands of friends are going to miss you.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon].
Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan, John
Dingell, for being gracious with his time, and I will only take just a
couple of minutes.
Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise as a conservative to pay tribute
and give my sympathy to the family of Ron Brown.
Ron Brown was a liberal. We rarely shared the same philosophical
views. But let me say to my colleagues there was no more trusted man in
politics, in my opinion, than Ron Brown because he really believed what
he said. He was truly genuine. I think we really need to learn from Ron
Brown's spirit. Even though he was a partisan Democrat and I am a
partisan Republican, we all could meet with him, and when that meeting
was finished and when I was walking out of the room, it felt like
walking out after having met with a friend even though we might have
disagreed.
That is the kind of man that Ron Brown was. We need more people like
that in Government, we need more people like that in this House of
Representatives. We all, those of us who show emotion from time to
time, could take a lesson from Ron Brown because he was truly a decent
human being, liked by so many people, including me.
Our condolences also go out to all of the families of those who lost
their lives in the terrible tragedy including the families from Glens
Falls, NY, my hometown, Claudio Elia, the husband of Susan Day, who
grew up next door, and to Walter J. Murphy, who also grew up in Glens
Falls.
They and Ron Brown were just 2 of the 33 decent human beings who were
doing their part in trying to bring peace and stability to that
troubled part of the world.
May God Bless them all.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia [Ms. Norton].
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding this time
to me, and I thank him for his leadership and his tribute to Ron Brown.
Seven Americans, seven public servants, went down on that fated plane
in Bosnia. One of them was Ronald H. Brown. He was my friend of 30
years and my constituent. This was the city in which he was born, it is
the city where he lived out his life, it was the city where he became
known as both a public man and a public servant.
Many of us will remember him also as a family man. The most poignant
photograph of Ron is the one with his twin grandsons.
{time} 1100
What Ron meant to his son Michael and his daughter Tracy is itself a
model for how to be a parent in these days when so many have lost that
art. Yet, this most busy of men was a wonderful parent to his children.
Ron will be remembered as a breaker of barriers on one hand, and as
an extraordinary innovator on the other. He broke barriers that no man
or woman before him had even attempted. This was, I have to say, my
colleagues, a black man who simply did not know his place and refused
to accept the notion that there was one for him. So when it came time
to resurrect the Democratic Party, it was Ron Brown who stepped forward
and said not ``Not me,'' but ``It must be me.''
When he went to the Commerce Department he said not ``How do you do
this job?'' but ``I will do this job in a way it has never been done
before.'' So after he broke the barriers, he did something much more
important. He was a pioneer in turning around each of those
institutions.
It was Ron Brown who engineered the comeback of the Democratic Party
in 1992, and it was Ron Brown who perfected the art of diplomacy, of
commercial diplomacy at the Commerce Department. Either one of these
breakthroughs, either one of these pioneering efforts, would have left
Ron's name written in the book of American history. He wrote new pages
wherever he went. He wrote them in part because he had it all. He was
an extraordinarily talented man, and because he understood the expanse
of his talents, he gave it all.
Ron exemplified the best of our country, the American spirit of
optimism, the refusal to recognize any limits. May our country also
make that same refusal.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Fox].
Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute today to a
great America, Ron Brown, who was an outstanding father to Tracy and
Michael, a loving husband to Alma, a fine Cabinet secretary, a trusted
adviser to President Clinton, a champion of business. He helped
increase the growth of this country's companies and, as well, increased
jobs; a goodwill ambassador for the United States; a positive spirit; a
modern-day Will Rogers. He never lost his cool.
The world gave him lemons and he made lemonade; a role model for our
young people; for those who want to get involved in government, work
for a good candidate, work for a good cause, and work for your country,
just like Ron Brown did, a great American who we tribute today, and who
will be greatly missed.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from South Carolina [Mr. Spratt].
(Mr. SPRATT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I proudly sponsor this resolution because
Ron Brown was a friend and a rare American. He was African-American,
but he transcended race and color. He was a party leader, and one of
the best because he resurrected our party, but there was nothing ever
small or petty or partisan about him. He had this enormous affinity for
people, and he led by bringing people together, not by splitting us
apart.
When he came before our committee to defend his embattled Commerce
Department, he was a forceful advocate with the facts at his command,
but he made his case without a trace of rancor or resentment. He could
do that because he sat there as the single best argument for that
embattled department.
Ron Brown was a bridge-builder at a time when so many of our
differences seem unbridgeable. His goodness and his decency and his
energy and charm are assets we sorely need in the public life of this
country. We can ill afford to lose leaders like him, before his time,
still in his prime.
But in the broadest sense, we have not lost Ron Brown, for he remains
a lasting symbol of what America at its best can be. I extend to his
family, and to the families of all those who perished in this tragic
accident, my sympathy and our gratitude for the selfless service
rendered our country in the cause of peace in a forlorn place.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Ney].
(Mr. NEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from yielding time to me.
Mr. Speaker, I also wanted to extend on behalf of my district and,
obviously,
[[Page H3591]]
all the Members of the House, condolences to the family of Ron Brown
and all those who were aboard the airplane that crashed in Bosnia.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I wanted to point out that one of my constituents
who was originally from Zanesville, OH, Shelly McPeck Kelly, was aboard
that plane. She leaves behind a loving family in Zanesville, OH. That
would be her mother, Shirley Clark, and also her stepfather, Sam Clark,
and several siblings. She also leaves behind a loving husband, Dennis,
and two children, Sean and Courtney.
Shelly McPeck Kelly was to retire in 2 years from the Air Force. She
achieved the rank of technical sergeant. She was a loyal and devoted
wife and a loving mother. She served faithfully her Government aboard a
U.S. Air Force plane, and also had previously served for the President
aboard Air Force One during the Bush administration.
I recognize her service to the country, and rise on behalf of the
residents of eastern Ohio to say that we want to commend Shelly McPeck
Kelly for her service to the United States of America during the Bosnia
peacekeeping mission, and just also say that the residents of eastern
Ohio join me in honoring the memory of Shelly McPeck Kelly and send
condolences to her family, as we also send to the family of Ron Brown
and the other devoted and loyal Americans aboard that plane.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Jackson].
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished
gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Dingell] for yielding this time to me, and
for his forthright vision in honoring the late Secretary of Commerce.
Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to join my colleagues in sponsoring
this resolution in honor of Secretary Ron Brown and the others who lost
their lives on Wednesday, April 3. The tragic plane crash and death of
Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown is a personal loss, as well as a
national loss of a great public servant. In addition to being a
professional colleague, I was a close personal friend, not only of Ron
Brown, but of his entire family, his wife Alma, his two children,
Tracey and Michael, and his brother Chip Brown.
Our prayers are with Ron Brown's family and with all of the families
who lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy--Bill Morton, Carol
Hamilton, Duane Christian, Kathryn Hoffman, and the others. It is a
reminder to all of us to be good stewards of the time and talent that
God has given us on this Earth, and to use it to serve others to the
best of our abilities.
I was with Secretary Ron Brown just a couple of weeks ago at a
breakfast meeting. He came up to me and congratulated me on my election
to Congress. He said, ``I am so proud of you.'' The feeling was mutual,
I was also proud of him.
I was appointed to the Democratic National Committee [DNC] by Paul
Kirk, largely at the behest of Ron Brown, who shortly thereafter was
chosen as the chairman of the DNC. As Chair of the DNC, he is credited
with running a coordinated campaign, which not only elected Democrats
to the Senate and House, but helped to elect Bill Clinton President of
the United States. Shorty, thereafter, he was appointed Secretary of
Commerce, where he did a splendid job for the President and for the
country.
Ron Brown was the convention manager for my father's Presidential
campaign in 1988, where he used his bridge-building skills to close the
gap between progressives and the more conservative members of our
party. In many ways, even more than business development, that is Ron
Brown's legacy. He was a gifted bridge builder--bridging the gaps of
human misunderstanding and fear; and building human trust and
understanding.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Roth].
Mr. ROTH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me.
Mr. Speaker, I got to know Ron Brown because I serve on the
International Relations Committee, and because I also serve as Chairman
of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus. Ron Brown had a great
sense of humor. He was also a fellow that helped Republicans. I hold an
exports conference every year, and over 1,000 people come to that
conference each year. Ron Brown was one of the keynote speakers at the
conference 2 years ago.
As I said, he had a great sense of humor. When I spoke with him at
the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism, he said to me, ``You
know, you are my favorite Republican.'' I was really proud of that
until someone told me, Ron tells all the Republicans they are his
`Favorite Republican'.''
We have a travel and tourism bill developed from the recommendations
of the White House conference. The success of that bill is a
testimonial to Ron Brown, because we have 225 cosponsors of that
legislation.
Ron and I also worked together on another bill, the Export
Administration Act. For 17 years, Congress was unable to put together
an export administration act. Then, I want to Ron Brown and said, ``I
have to talk to the President about this.'' Thanks to Ron Brown, I did
have a chance to talk to President Clinton three times on the
legislation. That bill has been reported out of our full committee, and
it is waiting for a full House vote in May.
Ron Brown was a great Democrat, and he worked hard for the party. I
think the loss of Ron Brown to Clinton is comparable to the loss of Lee
Atwater to President Bush. That is my opinion. That is how much I
thought of Ron Brown.
Yes, he was the loyal opposition, but he knew when to put aside
partisan politics. He went out of his way to help make my Exports
Conference a success, and I happen to be a Republican. His help with
the Export Administration Act was invaluable. That bill will increase
our exports by $30 billion.
Mr. Speaker, I just want the people of this body to know that when
Ron Brown went overseas, he worked hard. When he went down with a
number of CEO's to Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, he worked as many as
35 hours in a row briefing people, talking to people, and trying to
create jobs. Ron Brown did a lot for the economy of this country, and
we are going to miss him. I thank the gentleman for yielding me the
time.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Payne].
(Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from
Michigan [Mr. Dingell] for handling this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, last night we held a special orders session to honor our
friend and a great American hero, Ron Brown. I rise now to join my
colleagues in supporting this resolution paying tribute to this
remarkable public servant.
As Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown was known around the world as a
tireless crusader for fair and free trade. A skilled negotiator, he
kept America's interests in the forefront while winning the respect of
our foreign competitors. Although Ron Brown's life was cut short, it
was filled with extraordinary achievements: U.S. Army captain, vice
president of the National Urban League, chief counsel, Senate Judiciary
Committee, partner in the law firm Patton, Boggs & Blow; chairman of
the Democratic National Committee, and his crowning achievement,
Secretary of Commerce.
His dynamic energy was the force that propelled the Commerce
Department forward. He and his energetic young staff brought billions
of dollars of business home to the United States, transforming a
lackluster Federal agency into a whirlwind of productive activity. We
take a moment now to say thank you, Secretary Brown, for being both a
dreamer and a doer. Your candle has not been extinguished; its light
continues to burn.
Our deepest sympathy goes to his loving family--his wife, Alma and
children Michael and Tracey and to the families of all of those
dedicated Americans who died on that fateful mission.
We will miss Ron. He was a true American. He was an American who said
that we can do it. He opened the eyes of this world to what can be done
with dedication. Thank you very much for your service.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Connecticut [Mr. Shays].
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to
me, and
[[Page H3592]]
I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Connecticut [Mr. Franks], for
letting me go a bit out of order.
Mr. Speaker, I want to pay my solemn and deep respects for Mr. Brown,
who was an outstanding chairman of a major political party, the
Democrat Party, and an outstanding Secretary of Commerce. He was
someone who was extraordinarily energetic. I never met with him when he
was not upbeat and excited and very dynamic. I wish to express my
condolences to his wife, Alma, and to his two magnificent children,
Michael and Tracy.
{time} 1115
This resolution also honors the others who died in this tragic plane
crash in the former Yugoslavia, and I want to pay particular respect to
Robert Donovan, who was the president and chairman of ABB, and, a
resident of Fairfield, CT. I also want to pay respect to his
magnificent wife Peg, and his two children, Kara and Kevin. I learned a
lot from meeting with them after the death of their husband and father
about the resilience of a great American family and how proud he could
be of his family. I want to pay respect for his service to West Point
and to his country. He was a true great American patriot.
At this time I also want to pay my respect to Claudio Elia, who was
president and chairman of Air and Water Technology. He was a recent
citizen of the United States, and I am told by his wife Susan and his
children Mark and Christine that their father would have taken
extraordinary joy, pleasure, and admiration--they would have been so
proud to have heard the President of the United States call him and the
others who went on this dangerous mission great American patriots. I
was in awe of this family, the Elia family, in terms of my conversation
and dialog with them, on how they dealt with the death of their husband
and father.
My respects to Mr. Brown and to these two great families.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from New York [Mr. Rangel].
(Mr. RANGEL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, let me thank my friend from Michigan for
managing this bill for my dear friend Ron Brown.
One of the questions that I have found most difficult to answer was
what made Ron Brown so different. I have to admit that I do not really
have the answer, but one of the things that I think that made him
different was the depth of which he loved this country and the fact
that the country gave him an opportunity to show just how good he was.
When you think about that, you have to take a look at the history of
our country, where we were and where we are going, and was Ron Brown
not the right guy at the right time.
Everything that we have been taught in this country in our history
deals with our relationship with England and with Europe. But now that
they have their Common Market, we have to find other places to sell our
goods: Central America, South America, Africa, China, all of these
markets. And we have to do it in a way that we are not so hung up with
our European connection as much as we are with our human being
connection, and that was what Ron Brown was all about.
Ron Brown saw despair. He saw the need for economic development. He
knew what a job would do for a person in terms of family values and
dignity and planning a family and having a place to live. When he went
to these countries, he did not just see a place to sell airplanes. He
saw the pain and the misery and the opportunity to help build their
economy, build friendships and, of course, while doing that, to create
the jobs and the dignity and the disposable income that would be
necessary for trade.
That is why when I have had the opportunity and the honor to travel
with him, that he never just stayed with the big shots. He always went
out there with the beneficiaries, the poor, those that sometimes seemed
to be without hope. Even in South Africa, where he went to Soweto and
spent more time than I would normally spend to see the people in
Soweto, to sing their national anthem in his honor and his presence,
meant that he did more than just sell goods to these people. He was
selling the United States of America.
I hope those that have targeted the Commerce Department would realize
that Ron Brown electrified everybody in Commerce. They love their
country and they love what they are going. Whenever Ron Brown went
overseas, our embassies turned overnight into being satellites of the
Commerce Department, and our business people, instead of seeing staid
diplomats and ambassadors, they saw those people that were there making
deals for them.
I hope as this Congress moves forward and we have to go to the North
American free trade countries and we have to go to China and Japan,
that we really give other Americans the opportunities and change the
complexion literally of the State Department, as Commerce has changed,
and give America a better chance to show how good we really are.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Connecticut [Mr. Franks].
Mr. FRANKS of Connecticut. I thank the gentleman from Michigan for
yielding me the time this morning.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to read a letter that I sent to Alma Brown,
Michael, and Tracy and the other members of the Brown family:
It is with great sorrow that I write this letter of
condolence to all the members of your extended family. Losing
a family member is always difficult, particularly when it is
someone who has been so vibrant and been so wonderful to this
country, as well as one who would have such a great future
that was taken away from him so abruptly.
Secretary Brown dedicated his life to his country and,
ultimately, died in service of it. There is no greater love
that one can have for one's country than to die for it.
Even though he died at a relatively young age, Secretary
Brown's accomplishments were far greater than most people
ever achieve at any age.
I realize the feelings of grief that you must feel at this
tragic time. However, the love of your family and the warmth
and sincerity of neighbors, friends and the many people of
our great country who are mourning the loss of Secretary
Brown, will help sustain you in the days to come.
I know that Secretary Brown's memory will be cherished by
the many people whose lives he touched and affected.
My prayers are also being sent, Mr. Speaker, to the other passengers
who died in the crash, including the two families from my State of
Connecticut.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Hoyer].
Mr. HOYER. I thank my friend from Michigan for yielding me the time.
Mr. Speaker, on April 3 of this year, 33 bright and shining stars of
America lost their lives on a mission for their Government. Whether
they came from the private sector, the armed services, or public
service as Ron Brown and his colleagues from Commerce, they were all
serving America and serving as a shining example to us, all of the best
that is within us.
I, and a number of my colleagues, went to Dover Air Force Base to
welcome back the 33 caskets containing those bodies. Their souls, of
course, had gone to God. But as we paid tribute to them as human beings
and expressed our sorrow along with their families at their leaving, we
listened to the President's eulogy which was appropriate and, I
thought, compelling. He said that these 33 lives show us the best of
America, and indeed they did. And as this resolution does, the
President named each and every one of those 33.
Ron Brown was, as he was to so many, my friend. I particularly
remember an incident where we were going to Los Angeles to speak, and
he had arrived at Dulles on an airplane, and I had gone there from
here, and he had a very short connection. We got on the plane and we
were flying to Los Angeles, and he had to speak that night at 5 o'clock
and, lo and behold, his bags had not followed him and he was in casual
clothes.
Now, Ron Brown was not one to speak in casual clothes, as we will
recall. Luckily, I had two suits in my bag, so we went in the men's
room at the Denver Airport, and there we were, a black man and white
man exchanging suits and dressing to speak that night. I am sure a lot
of people said, ``What's going on here?''
Ron Brown spoke that night, and he said, ``I'm Ron Brown, but this is
Steny Hoyer's suit.'' He was so elegant, I am sure that he thought my
suit was not quite up to his standards.
[[Page H3593]]
Ron Brown contributed greatly to this country in so many different
ways. Yes, he was as shining an example of what a Secretary of Commerce
ought to be as any in history, but he was much more than that. He was,
as so many of my colleagues have indicated, a representation of what
America is all about and what its best instincts produce.
Ron Brown was indeed a happy warrior. He was the embodiment of the
joy of politics. Ron Brown, for all the young people of America, ought
to be an example that there are no barriers too high, no mountains too
hard to climb that should preclude you from accomplishing all that your
character and your energy and your commitment will allow you to
accomplish.
The President of the United States, as he closed the eulogy in Dover
on April 6, said this:
Today we bring their bodies back home to America, but their
souls are surely at home with God. We welcome them home. We
miss them. We ask God to be with them and their families.
The President said that we ought to pray that God bless America. And
God did bless America. He did so through the lives of these 33 shining
examples of the best of America.
Mr. Speaker, I include the remarks of the President on April 6 at
this point in the Record.
Remarks by the President and Brigadier General William J. Dedinger,
Deputy Chief of Chaplains, at Ceremony Honoring the Americans Who
Accompanied Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown to Croatia
Brigadier General Dedinger. Let us pray. Almighty God,
source of all comfort and consolation, we ask your blessing
as we receive the victims of this tragic accident. Though we
walk through the valley of death and grief, we fear no evil,
for you are with us with your comfort and consolation. You
always prepare a table of refreshment for us, and surely your
goodness and mercy will uphold us in our grief and sorrow in
these days.
Help us always to remember these public servants, ever
mindful of their willingness to share their talents and
wisdom, not only with their own nation, but also with people
seeking to recover from the ravages of war. May their example
renew our personal vision of public service. Lord, give us
this day a new hope, as we feel despair; new light, as we
sense darkness; deeper compassion, as we experience loss. May
this hope, this light, this compassion heal the brokenness of
our hearts and minds.
This we ask in you holy name. Amen.
The President. My fellow Americans, today we come to a
place that has seen too many sad, silent homecomings. For
this is where we in America bring home our own--those who
have given their lives in the service of their country.
The 33 fine Americans we meet today, on their last journey
home, ended their lives on a hard mountain a long way from
home. But in a way they never left America. On their mission
of peace and hope, they carried with them America's spirit,
what our greatest martyr. Abraham Lincoln, called ``the last,
best hope of earth.''
Our loved ones and friends loved their country and they
loved serving their country. They believed that America,
through their efforts, could help to restore a broken land,
help to heal a people of their hatreds, help to bring a
better tomorrow through honest work and shared enterprise.
They know what their country had given them and they gave it
back with a force, an energy, an optimism that every one of
us can be proud of.
They were outstanding business leaders who gave their
employees and their customers their very best. They were
brave members of our military, dedicated to preserving our
freedom and advancing America's cause.
There was a brilliant correspondent, committed to helping
Americans better understand this complicated new world we
live in. And there were public servants, some of them still
in the fresh springtime of their years, who gave nothing less
than everything they had, because they believed in the
nobility of public service.
And there was a noble Secretary of Commerce who never saw a
mountain he couldn't climb or a river he couldn't build a
bridge across.
All of them were so full of possibility. Even as we grieve
for what their lives might have been, let us celebrate what
their lives were, for their public achievements and their
private victories of love and kindness and devotion are
things that no one--no one--could do anything but treasure.
These 33 lives show us the best of America. They are a
stern rebuke to the cynicism that is all too familiar today.
For as family after family after family told the Vice
President and Hillary and me today, their loved ones were
proud of what they were doing, they believed in what they
were doing, they believed in this country, they believed we
could make a difference. How silly they make cynicism seem.
And, more important, they were a glowing testimonial to the
power of individuals who improved their own lives and elevate
the lives of others and make a better future for others.
These 33 people loved America enough to use what is best
about it in their own lives, to try to help solve a problem a
long, long way from home.
At the first of this interminable week, Ron Brown came to
the White House to visit with me and the Vice President and a
few others. And at the end of the visit he was bubbling with
enthusiasm about this mission. And he went through all the
people from the Commerce Department who were going. And then
he went through every single business leader that was going.
And he said, you know, I've taken so many of these missions
to advance America's economic interest and to generate jobs
for Americans; these business people are going on this
mission because they want to use the power of the American
economy to save the peace in the Balkans.
That is a noble thing. Nearly 5,000 miles from home, they
went to help people build their own homes and roads, to turn
on the lights in cities darkened by war, to restore the
everyday interchange of people working and living together
with something to look forward to and a dream to raise their
own children by. You know, we can say a lot of things,
because these people were many things to those who loved
them. But I say to all of you, to every American, they
were all patriots, whether soldiers or civil servants or
committed citizens, they were patriots.
In their memory and in their honor, let us rededicate our
lives to our country and to our fellow citizens; in their
memory and in their honor, let us resolve to continue their
mission of peace and healing and progress. We must not let
their mission fail. And we will not let their mission fail.
The sun is going down on this day. The next time it rises
it will be Easter morning, a day that marks the passage from
loss and despair to hope and redemption, a day that more than
any other reminds us that life is more than what we know,
life is more than what we can understand, life is more than,
sometimes, even we can bear. But life is also eternal. For
each of these 33 of our fellow Americans and the two fine
Croatians that fell with them, their day on Earth was too
short, but for our country men and women we must remember
that what they did while the sun was out will last with us
forever.
If I may now, I would like to read the names of all of
them, in honor of their lives, their service and their
families:
Staff Sergeant Gerald Aldrich
Ronald Brown
Duane Christian
Barry Conrad
Paul Cushman III
Adam Darling
Captain Ashley James Davis
Gail Dobert
Robert Donovan
Claudio Eli a
Staff Sergeant Robert Farrington, Jr.
David Ford
Carol Hamilton
Kathryn Hoffman
Lee Jackson
Stephen Kaminski
Katherine Kellogg
Technical Sergeant Shelly Kelly
James Lewek
Frank Maier
Charles Meissner
William Morton
Walter Murphy
Lawrence Payne
Nathaniel Nash
Leonard Pieroni
Captain Timothy Schafer
John Scoville
I. Donald Terner
P. Stuart Tholan
Technical Sergeant Cheryl Ann Turnage
Naomi Warbasse
Robert Al Whittaker
Today we bring their bodies back home to America, but their
souls are surely at home with God. We welcome them home. We
miss them. We ask God to be with them and their families.
God bless you all, and God bless our beloved nation. Amen.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Hyde].
(Mr. HYDE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I did not have the honor of personally knowing
Ron Brown, but I knew him by reputation and by watching him work with
flair and gusto in a very important job. He was a great role model for
everybody. He was indeed a marvel.
One searches tragedies for some meaning or for some glimmer of good.
Out of Ron Brown's tragic end and out of the deaths of his passengers,
it seems to me we can take comfort in the fact that he died as a public
servant and elevated the category of public service through his
sacrifice and through his example. And those of us who are very
concerned about the low estate and esteem that public service has in
people's minds, it seems to me can take some consolation.
God bless Ron Brown and his family and all of those on the plane.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Ford].
[[Page H3594]]
{time} 1130
Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend from Michigan for
yielding me 2 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to support the resolution that is
before the House today in tribute to Secretary Ron Brown and other
Americans who met their untimely death.
Ron Brown, and I really associate myself first with all of the
remarks that have been made so far on this resolution before the House,
and we all were saddened with the death of Ron Brown and others, for
this Nation to know that Ron Brown was a good public servant, that Ron
Brown not only served his Nation well, but I was a neighbor of Ron
Brown's. That is true for Alma and Tracy, along with Mike and the two
grandchildren.
Being a neighbor, I guess for the past 15 years here in the D.C.
area, to know Ron Brown and his family, and to see and to watch how he
was able to develop such a great family and a good support system for
that family, and he was a good neighbor. Ron kept the neighborhood
upbeat. He was one who was always available and had time for young
people.
I can say that, because I have three sons myself, and my three sons
have been somewhat raised in the presence of Ron Brown, and to know of
his leadership and to know of his character and to know of his
smartness. He was extremely bright while he was there at the law firm
here in the District.
He went on to become the chairman of the Democratic National
Committee. Then I was on the plane with him going to my hometown in
Memphis back in 1992, the end of 1992, when he was called by the
President-elect Clinton to be offered a Cabinet slot in the
administration. We had that 2-hour flight. He left Memphis and went to
the Little Rock area.
But to hear him and listen to him, and to know he was about serving
this Nation, and to see Ron Brown as a corporate giant, leading
corporate American into other ventures throughout the world, and to
create jobs and to bring huge dollar amounts into this country, as a
neighbor and as a friend and as a Member of this body, I would say that
he made a great contribution to mankind, he made a great contribution
to America, and Ron Brown will be missed.We are certainly praying for
the family and other family members of the other deceased persons.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Portman].
Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for giving me the
opportunity to speak.
I was over at my office and I heard this, and I wanted to be here.
Twelve years ago, fresh out of law school, I worked with Ron Brown as
an international trade lawyer. At the time I was doing volunteer work
for then Vice President Bush. So clearly we were on opposite sides of
the political aisle. Yet Ron reached out to me and befriended me, and
for the past 12 years that friendship continued.
Most recently at home on a Sunday he called me to talk about
preserving the international trade functions at the Department of
Commerce, a function that he exercised as well as any Secretary of
Commerce in history, I think better than any Secretary of Commerce in
history.
As Ron was so good at doing, he reached out to me again and found
common ground, in this case our mutual back problems we were
experiencing. Unfortunately, my back surgery kept me away from his
funeral last week.
Toby Roth said he called him his favorite Republican, and apparently
he called some other Republicans that. He never called me that, but he
did call me his friend, and I cherish that, and will cherish that
forever.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentlewoman from Georgia [Ms. McKinney].
Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this
resolution, and I would like to thank the Democratic leader and the
Speaker for bringing this measure to the floor today.
First, I wish to extend my condolences to the Brown family and to the
families of all those who went down on that fateful flight. Their loss
is our loss, and America mourns the passing of some of our best and
brightest.
Mr. Speaker, I personally admired Ron Brown as a role model and as a
public servant. Moreover, his work touched the lives of my constituents
who benefited from his vision of improving the lives of working
families through investments and exports.
Ron Brown exemplified everything we as Democrats believe in and stand
for. His belief in the human spirit and the American dream permeated
every aspect of his life. His unwavering compassion and concern for the
less fortunate was the moral compass by which he guided his work. As
Democrats, we have lost one of our party's finest.
Mr. Speaker, it is not often that I get to meet the likes of a Ron
Brown. Moreover, I am proud to have known him and appreciate what he
has done for my constituents, for my party, and for my country.
A young woman from Atlanta was also on that plane, Kathryn Hoffman.
My condolences are extended to her family and to her friends.
I was recently asked by a journalist about the loss of Ron Brown, a
black leader. I corrected that journalist. Ron Brown was an American
leader.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to my good friend and
colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Watt].
Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, all of those of us who were
friends of Ron Brown certainly have their own personal stories, and I
have mine, but I will not take the time to dwell in personal stories.
I simply wanted to be one of the Members who rose in support of this
resolution and to express my condolences to the Brown family and the
families of all the other brave Americans who lost their lives in this
tragic accident.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my good friend and
colleague, the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Bishop].
Mr. BISHOP. Mr. Speaker, history will remember Ron Brown as one of
the most dynamic, creative and brilliant leaders to ever serve in a
Presidential Cabinet.
These characteristics stand out strong and clear in the many articles
reviewing his career that were published after the plane crash that
took his life and the lives of the staff Members and business leaders
accompanying him on that fatal trip to the former Yugoslavia.
One national magazine, Jet, featured a number of photographs of Ron
Brown at work. They showed Ron Brown in China, in Japan, in South
Africa, in Egypt, in Saudi Arabia, in Israel, in Gaza, in Russia, in
Germany, in Chile, in Indonesia, and in Bosnia, just hours before the
crash on the mountain top.
He seemed to be everywhere during those few busy years he served as
Secretary of Commerce, the first African-American to hold that office,
even coming to the Second District of Georgia to deliver the
commencement address at Albany State College.
In a span of less than 3 years, he made 15 trade missions to more
than 25 countries. These trips produced a record 80 billion dollars'
worth of new business contracts for U.S. made goods and services. His
work in foreign trade led to a 26-percent increase in U.S. exports. But
he also worked to enhance minority business enterprise in America and
abroad.
Vice President Gore called him the greatest Commerce Secretary in
history. But it was not just political allies who recognized his
extraordinary ability. Senator Dole described him as a tireless
advocate for American business and a gifted leader.
Born in Washington, DC, and raised in Harlem, Ron Brown was gifted at
everything he did, as a student at Middlebury College and St. John's
University, as an Army officer in Germany and Korea, as an official and
social worker with the National Urban League, as a senatorial aide and
chief counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, as chairman of the
Democratic National Committee, as an attorney in a leading law firm,
and as Secretary of Commerce, and as a friend.
Many of the articles about Ron Brown's career referred to him as a
trailblazer. This was certainly true, and the trails he blazed brought
jobs and a more secure economy for all Americans. He will be sorely
missed.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Hefner].
[[Page H3595]]
(Mr. HEFNER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. HEFNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution
and thank the gentleman for bringing it forth. We have lost a dear
friend.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Levin].
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, the outpouring of feeling after Ron Brown's
death was unique. It was a tribute to Ron, to his capacity for
friendship, to his verve, his zest for life, his intelligence, his
caring. It was also a tribute to Ron Brown's America.
Ron Brown's life showed that there are almost no limits to
opportunity in America. You have to work for it. But we often talk
about the limitlessness of opportunity, It is not always quite true.
Ron tried so hard to make it true.
Like so many other dear friends of Ron Brown, I have mourned his
death. I miss of him every day.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from Connecticut [Mr. Gejdenson].
Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, Ron Brown, who was a good friend of many
years, and I appeared on a program about 3 weeks into his position as
Secretary of Commerce, and I was somewhat nervous for my friend,
because the breadth and depth of areas covered by the Commerce
Department are so vast. Within 3 weeks he had mastered the area of
high-technology licensing and exports to a degree which most
secretaries had not at the completion of their term, his interest
length was such and his intensity and commitment to the areas he was in
charge of. He knew his job, he executed it with dignity and grace and
with an energy that ought to inspire everyone in both the public and
private sector.
He fought for the economic strength of this country from every
working man and woman's point of view. He wanted to make sure there
were jobs so that each American would have the kind of opportunity he
had made for himself.
He was a friend, he was incredibly capable. I cannot imagine that
there is anyone who will serve in that capacity who will have the
energy and intellect that Ron Brown had.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Dingell]
has 1\1/2\ minutes remaining.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of the time to the
distinguished gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Fields].
(Mr. FIELDS of Louisiana asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. FIELDS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman
for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, Ron Brown was a very personal friend of mine. I had an
opportunity to meet him on a Presidential campaign in 1988, where he
and I shared many platforms together. There is not another American
that I have ever met in my lifetime who has worked as hard, who has had
such a strong commitment to country, than Ron Brown.
Mr. Speaker, I stand before the House today to say that Ron Brown was
indeed a scholar, a leader, and a role model, for people all across
this country.
The last time Ron Brown and I had an opportunity to sit down and talk
was actually in the Fourth Congressional District. I called him at the
Department of Commerce and said, Mr. Secretary, I want you to come to
Louisiana and talk about economic development. And right off the cuff
he just said, I will be there. And in about 30 minutes, he called back
and said, I will be there in about 3 weeks.
So I want to thank the Ron Brown family. I also want to give a
special tribute to a family from Louisiana. The pilot of that plane was
from my home State of Louisiana, Ashley Davis. To his wife and to his
two little children, we want to say that we offer our condolences to
them and to all of the families of those who lost their lives in this
tragic accident. To them we say God bless you, and we will pray for
you.
Mr. Speaker, I do not think it is possible for everyone to fully
comprehend what a loss the Nation will suffer without the late Commerce
Secretary Ron H. Brown. Not only was he a champion for the domestic and
international development of American business, but also, and more
importantly, his extraordinary character was an invaluable asset to the
U.S. Government. Every project he touched was approached with a
tireless devotion and a profound understanding of the initiative's
impact on the Nation's economy. He led by example, urging others to
work as partners instead of competitors to maximize opportunities.
Truly, this man was in the business of building bridges and
reinforcing existing relationships to ensure opportunities for
advancement of large and small business interests alike. Under his
leadership, all facets of the Commerce Department flourished and
enjoyed the benefits of innovative policies. He was instrumental in
developing a comprehensive and coordinated plan for bringing together
the many elements of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration; he
sought to improve patent and trademark protection of U.S. interests in
intellectual property; he worked diligently for telecommunications
reform to create a competitive marketplace and to illuminate how
technology can alleviate geographic barriers and enhance education; he
instituted a long-term plan to assist the New England fishing
industry--the list goes on and on.
A man of firsts, Ron Brown was the first African-American chairman of
the Democratic National Committee and the first African-American to
hold the office of U.S. Secretary of Commerce. He worked tirelessly to
promote the Commerce Department's mission of long-term economic
growth--to him we owe a debt of gratitude for our Nation's prosperity.
At a time when diversity seems to be a dividing force in this country,
Ron Brown demonstrated that diversity is our Nation's greatest asset.
It is in this spirit that I offer these words of tribute.
During this time of remembrance, I would like to pay tribute to an
Air Force pilot who lost his life serving our country, Capt. Ashley J.
Davis. Captain Davis was from my hometown, Baton Rouge, LA. A victim of
the tragic plane crash which ended the lives of 33 Americans who were
serving their country, Captain Davis' mission was to pilot the
dignitaries who visited Europe. He was chosen for the job just 18
months ago, over 38 other pilots. I offer my condolences to Captain
Davis' family. He is survived by his wife Debra, and two children. A
man of great spirit and patriotism, I know his family and friends will
miss him. The Air Force has also suffered a great loss in his untimely
death during his dedicated service to our country. Today, I extend my
prayers to this family as well as the families of all the persons who
lost their lives in Croatia.
Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate
former Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown.
Throughout the past several days I have heard the accomplishments of
Ron Brown extolled by my colleagues. Americans everywhere, and
especially those who were close to Ron are deeply affected by this
tragedy. Ron was much more than a great chairman of the Democratic
Party and Secretary of Commerce, he was a true pioneer and an
inspirational human being.
I feel extremely fortunate to have known Ron as a personal friend.
Ron began to serve as chair of the Democratic Party around the time I
became chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Ron
exhibited unwavering optimism in the face of adversity and inspired
others to do the same. Through his tireless efforts, Ron Brown restored
the Democratic Party to greatness and brought a Democrat back to the
White House.
Ron was the type of person who consistently exceeded people's
expectations. As Commerce Secretary, Ron single-handedly defined his
role. He succeeded in promoting American business and boosting exports
to new heights.
Ron Brown was a pioneer in every sense of the word. He spent his life
overcoming obstacles and opening up new doors for others to follow. His
death occurred while he was cultivating the seeds of economic growth
and creating greater opportunities for a country ravaged by war.
Ron Brown will be long remembered for the tremendous service he
provided to his country. However, I will miss him as a close friend.
Adam Darling, a 29-year-old Commerce Department employee was also
among those who perished in the crash. Darling had worked at the
Department since 1993 and had helped plan the trip to the region. A
former Davis, CA resident and graduate of the University of
Pennsylvania, Darling had a promising future ahead of him. My deepest
sympathy goes out to Adam's family.
Tim Schaefer, a Sacramento native, was among the six Air Force crew
members who perished in the accident. Schaefer, the plane's copilot,
had earned a degree in mechanical engineering from California State
University, Sacramento. Also among the crew was Capt. Ashley J. Davis.
Both men had been stationed at Beale AFB. I salute these members of the
armed services who paid the ultimate price to serve their country.
Mr. MARTINI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ron Brown, the United
States Secretary
[[Page H3596]]
of Commerce who was killed in a tragic accident on April 3, 1996. He
and 35 other victims died when their plane went down on a stormy
evening in Croatia. He was serving as a diplomat in the war-torn area,
analyzing the economy and what actions needed to be taken in the former
Yugoslavia in order to spur economic growth to secure the peace.
Ron Brown was indeed an asset to the United States. He was one of the
ambitious, special people who is capable of performing multiple roles
in their lives while at the same time succeeding in all arenas and
remaining true to their ideology.
Ron Brown was a vocal and successful civil rights advocate, political
strategist, corporate lawyer, and propagator of American business
interests.
He tirelessly campaigned to make the interests of American businesses
a foreign policy goal. He certainly deserves credit and thanks for
market expansion.
It is because of his success in multiple arenas and in the
international community that the United States and the world mourn
together. Today we should all take a moment to remember the career and
the man we lost.
Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, on April 3, 1996 the United States lost a
leader. Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown inspired us all with his
ability to bring together people from different backgrounds, beliefs,
and cultures to find and achieve a goal for the common good.
He inspired us by his commitment to finding opportunities for U.S.
businesses overseas, recognizing that our country's trade deficit is
harmful to our domestic economy and the jobs Americans want and need.
Because of his leadership, many California technology firms have
increased their sales to foreign countries, which has increased
employment and a rebounding California economy. According to the Joint
Venture's Index of Silicon Valley, 46,000 jobs have been added to our
region since 1992. The semiconductor industry, which has endured years
of job loss due to a trade deficit with Japan, showed a gain of 4,300
jobs between 1994 and 1995. Business confidence of Santa Clara County
companies reached an all-time high of 73 percent in 1995.
Secretary Brown advocated effectively for economic and employment
improvements in Silicon Valley, and this is just part of his legacy.
Members of Congress, the administration, business leaders, and citizens
must work to preserve this legacy of proactive work on behalf of the
people of our country.
America will miss his leadership. I will miss his friendship of
almost two decades. Secretary Brown gave his life while serving his
country. God rest his good soul.
Ms. DUNN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to pay tribute to
Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown and the 32 other Americans who lost
their lives when their plane crash near Dubrovnik, Croatia, on April 3,
1996.
Throughout his tenure as Commerce Secretary, Ron Brown successfully
worked on behalf of American companies and their workers in opening
doors to the global market. For many companies in my home State of
Washington, Secretary Brown was instrumental in promoting our products
and cultivating new and/or improved business relationships with our
international neighbors.
The most important role of any Commerce Secretary is the promotion of
American companies and the workers they employ. Ron Brown will forever
be remembered as being a success at this task.
The people who died aboard that plane gave the ultimate sacrifice in
the name of democracy and a global free market. Prosperity and economic
hope are essential in bringing long-term peace and security to that
region of the world. Ron Brown and the other individuals on that plane
knew this and recognized their role in spreading our Nation's
democratic and free-market beliefs around the globe.
My heart goes out to each and every family member of those who died
in that tragic crash. In this time of great sadness, these families
should know that as Americans their loved ones will be missed, as
patriots they will never be forgotten.
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, ``Fanfare to the Common Man'' was played
triumphantly at the funeral of the late Commerce Secretary, Ronald H.
Brown. His family could have played some horn tooting type music, in
view of the facts that Mr. Brown was truly a successful, high stakes
Washington player and an overachiever in many respects. However, they
know Ron would not have wanted it any other way.
Ron Brown did not see himself as a Democratic power broker or jet
setter or trailblazer like we did. He saw himself as a middle-class kid
who grew up in Harlem that loved the basic things in life: family,
friends, work, and country. He was passionate about each. He was also
passionately devoted to ensuring that everyone got an opportunity, a
chance to do better. He believed in opportunity so much that he
insisted that his Commerce Department staff memorize a one-sentence
mission statement. It reads: ``The mission of the Department of
Commerce is to ensure economic opportunity for every American.'' We
should all agree that this is still a noble cause.
Mr. Brown set several honorable examples for people from different
walks in life. He encouraged young people to strive and reach for the
gold. And indeed, he practiced what he preached, he had several raising
stars on that ill-fated plane with him. He encouraged CEO's and
business leaders to lend their expertise for the improvement of cities
in our country and in foreign lands. On that plane were business
leaders from across the country. Ron Brown always did what he could to
provide an opportunity for everyone, everywhere.
We each will remember Ronald Brown, in our own way, but collectively
we will remember him as a great, inspiring American.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ron Brown and to
express my deep sorrow and sincerest condolences to his wonderful
family. Ron Brown was my friend, and he was a great American.
As Secretary of the Commerce Department, Ron Brown played an
instrument role in implementing the administration's economic plan that
has created 8.4 million jobs nationwide since taking office. He was a
major force behind job creation efforts and the chief architect of
high-technology initiatives to provide greater employment opportunities
for working Americans.
Previously, Ron Brown served as chairman of the Democratic National
Committee. He was the first African-American in history to head a major
national political party. At the DNC, Ron Brown rebuilt the party and
laid the groundwork for the Democrats to win back the White House after
losing three straight national elections.
Last summer, Ron Brown traveled to my congressional district to
attend the closing ceremony of the Special Olympics in New Haven. We
spent the glorious Connecticut morning touring events and had a great
time with those wonderful Special Olympians who shared Ron's never-
give-up spirit.
Mr. Speaker, Ron Brown lived the American dream and served as an
inspirational role model for America's youth. Our country has lost a
great leader.
I also want to convey my condolences to the friends and families of
Robert Donovan, the chief executive officer of ABB, Inc., headquartered
in Norwalk, CT, and Claudio Elia, the chairman and chief executive
officer of Air and Water Technologies Corp. in Branchburg, NJ, who
lived in Greenwich, CT. In addition, the Nation lost many fine,
dedicated people in this tragedy who gave their lives in an attempt to
heal a nation and a world ravaged by war. Connecticut and the Nation
mourn the loss.
Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join my colleagues in tribute
to a truly remarkable man, the late Honorable Ron Brown. Ron Brown was
a prominent black American who dedicated his life to building a better
world for all people. Blessed with many talents and opportunities, Ron
used them wisely and he shared his gifts generously.
Ron Brown was a compassionate man who thrived on challenge. He blazed
new trails and often was the first black American in his field. Ron was
the first black member of his college fraternity, the first black
counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, the first black chairman of
the Democratic Party, and the first black Secretary of the Department
of Commerce.
Ron had a charming manner and a graceful style. He showed a deftness
for overcoming the odds and doing some impossible things. When many
experts and political pundits said it could not be done, Ron
rejuvenated the Democratic Party and spearheaded the campaign that
elected Bill Clinton President, and when Ron did these things he made
it look easy.
Ron Brown had the courage of convictions that inspired others to join
in his crusades. He shared his vision and his faith in a brighter
future. He was a force for unification of diverse groups and the
resolution of conflict among them. His last mission was dedicated to
rebuilding a war torn land and I am sure he would have made a great
contribution to the rebuilding of Bosnia if only he had lived a little
longer.
Ron lived his life sowing the seeds of peace and hope. He left this
world way too soon, but he left it better than he found it. We will
long feel the force of Ron Brown's smiling spirit and long celebrate
the legacy of good will he left behind.
Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a very
special man, Ronald H. Brown. Most Americans will remember him as the
Secretary of Commerce. However, he was much more. He was the
personification of the concept of a bridgebuilder.
In his role as the Secretary of Commerce, Ron constantly promoted
American trade. His zeal was premised upon the notion that if the
commerce of the United States thrived it would directly translate to
increased economic vitality for our Nation. Ron, who never forgot
[[Page H3597]]
where he came from, knew that his efforts would result in jobs for the
common man.
As chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Ron Brown set the
stage for a resurgence of the Democratic Party. This is a resounding
testament to his ability, for it was under his leadership that the
Democratic Party was able to elect Bill Clinton as President. Ron
accomplished this task on the heels of three consecutive Presidential
defeats of Democratic candidates.
His memory deserves more than the mere recognition of his official
position. For his title was but a small reflection of what he was.
Drive, tenacity, compassion, and loyalty were his trademarks. Most of
us hope to attain all of these attributes. Few of us attain them with
the proper balance. And even fewer attain these attributes and are able
to parlay them into avenues for even greater achievement. Ronald H.
Brown was one of these rare individuals.
Whitney Young once said, ``We can't * * * sit and wait for somebody
else. We must go ahead--alone if necessary.'' Ron Brown was a
trailblazer and a visionary. He never waited for opportunities, he
created them. Because of this, all American people have benefited.
Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, Ron Brown was a renaissance politician, a
jack of all trades who mastered them all. He was a mentor for seasoned
professional politicians and he was qualified to tutor most of us. Ron
used his considerable influence and charm to become an extraordinary
fundraiser for the Democratic Party. From the complex job of raising
money to the details of election day engineering, Ron performed with
great enthusiasm.
I first met Ron Brown in Chicago while campaigning for Harold
Washington for mayor of Chicago. Former Majority Whip Bill Gray, Ron,
and I were on a campaign swing through the public housing projects on
Chicago's Southside. At that time, Ron was working with a well-known,
prestigious, and powerful law firm in Washington. However, on that day,
he was simply Ron the loyal friend, campaigning for a fellow Democrat.
We went into huge, tall, cold concrete buildings and walked on floors
which seemed to be completely out of this world.
The deterioration and garbage inside the halls were unbelievable even
to a poor boy like me whose father had never earned more than the
minimum wage. I had lived in some of the poorest neighborhoods of
Memphis and worked in some of the poorest neighborhoods in New York,
but never had I seen such despair. The only glimmer of light we saw in
those highrise urban tunnels were the Harold Washington posters that
the residents waved at us when they saw our familiar signs. We had
connected with the most oppressed among us. As my eyes met Ron's he
broke into his signature smile: ``This is what politics has got to be
all about,'' he said as we plunged into the crowd of outstretched hands
and marched through the halls reminding folks that tomorrow was the day
to go out and elect the first African-American mayor of Chicago.
Ron Brown was the unifying force behind the most successful and
conflict-free convention the Democrats have had in nearly two decades.
Ron was a star who kept his poise, kept peace among the many party
factions, and made the Democratic National Committee an effective force
to be reckoned with in politics. Ron Brown was a masterful strategist
who began his tenure as party chairman with several special election
victories despite great obstacles. He was a great communicator and a
great cheerleader who also understood the nuts and bolts of winning
campaigns.
Seldom in America does one man so gracefully transcend the racial
chasm. Ronald H. Brown did, and in his journey, he deeply touched the
heart and soul of a nation. As our Secretary of Commerce, he was our
corporate ambassador to the world. As the chairman of the splintered,
fractious Democratic Party, he was the glue that held it together, and
in so doing, delivered the White House and became the most beloved
chairman in history.
Ron Brown was undaunted and unfazed by challenges. Being a first was
not unusual for him. He was the first African-American in his college
fraternity, the first African-American counsel for the Senate Judiciary
Committee, and the list goes on. Ron was a trailblazer and an eternal
optimist. He saw no mountain that couldn't be climbed or moved or
conquered.
The Nation has lost a great leader and statesman. I join Ron's many
colleagues and friends not in mourning his death, but in celebrating
his life, his accomplishments, his style, and his spirit. Ronald H.
Brown will be missed, but never forgotten.
Mr. McDADE. Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleagues from both sides
of the aisle today in paying tribute to former Commerce Secretary
Ronald H. Brown and the 34 others who lost their lives in the tragic
plane crash on April 3 in Croatia.
I had the privilege of personally knowing Ron Brown. I respected and
liked him as a dedicated public servant, an individual of the highest
caliber, and a man of great intellectual ability. A man of his
abilities and experience, who possessed such tremendous personal
characteristics, will be greatly missed.
Ron Brown leaves behind a legacy of achievement in the military,
political, government, and business arenas that few people can match.
He led an extraordinary life and we are all saddened by the loss of
this talented, exceptional, and energetic man.
My sympathy and condolences go to his wife and two children and to
all of the families of those who died in this tragic accident. As
Americans, we all mourn the loss of life and note the sacrifice of
these individuals who died in the service to their country.
Mr. KENNEDY of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I wish to join my
colleagues, Mr. Gephardt and Ms. Meek, in support of the resolution in
tribute to Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and the 32 other patriotic
Americans, including several from my State of Massachusetts, who lost
their lives on St. John's Hill outside of Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Ron Brown was truly a living American hero, and his loss will be
sorely missed--and my heart goes out to his lovely wife Alma and his
loving children, Michael and Tracy. I will miss Ron dearly. He was a
colleague and a friend of more than 20 years, and his loss is a
personal one.
In an era where cynicism too often wins out over optimism, where fear
too often conquers hope, and where the art of politics is seen by most
in a less-than-admirable light, Ron Brown showed that public service is
indeed an honorable profession.
Whether in his service to his country in the U.S. Army, as a leader
in the civil rights movement, as a public and private sector lawyer, as
a political party professional, or as an advocate of business and job
creation for all Americans, Ron Brown was a leader, a visionary, and a
dreamer of what America could and should be. But most importantly, was
a passionate advocate for expanding equal opportunity to all Americans.
In a world with too few heroes, we have lost a true American hero.
Ron Brown was truly a man who viewed politics as the art of the
possible. Ron Brown's legacy will far outlast most of us--his unique
and enviable ability to bring people together to find a common goal.
You had to know Ron Brown on a personal level to understand his
unique ability--his intelligence, his boundless energy, his strong
will, his resilience, his ability to grasp complex ideas and to
advocate them in a way that always brought people together.
But you also had to appreciate how Ron Brown took on each and every
opportunity with a spring in his step, a twinkle in his eye, and a
smile on his face. It's been said before, but Ron Brown was Will Rogers
in reverse: you never met anyone who didn't like Ron Brown.
Ron Brown had a passion for achievement that you rarely see in
individuals, and he was an extraordinarily gifted man. I will always
consider myself fortunate to have known Ron Brown as a friend.
He will indeed be remembered as a patriot and a friend, and we will
miss him dearly.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is a sad responsibility to rise to join
with my colleagues in paying tribute to an outstanding public servant
who has been lost to us all too prematurely and in support of House
Resolution 406.
Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown, throughout his many years of public
service--and let there be no mistake that he did indeed contribute many
years of public service--was well known for his outstanding
personality, his determined professionalism, and perhaps, most
importantly of all, his charming sense of humor which won him the
admiration of political allies and adversaries alike.
Ron Brown, before entering the public limelight, was well known as
political mover and shaker behind the scenes here on Capitol Hill.
While serving on the staff of Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts,
he learned the importance of compassion in legislation, the importance
of compromise, and the importance of consensus.
As Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown was an inspiration to us all. He
genuinely cared about the business community of this Nation, and
understood that a strong economy is the cornerstone of national
strength.
It was in pursuit of expanding trade opportunities in that part of
the world which used to be called Yugoslavia that Ron gave his life.
The tragic and untimely death of Ron Brown is a reminder that those who
devote their lives to public service are in just as much jeopardy as
are those who volunteer for the battlefield.
The fact that 33 young public servants also gave their lives with Ron
Brown only underscores his ability to inspire others, especially young
people, to public service. These devoted young people deserve our
admiration.
It is with deep regret that I learned that one of those 33 victims
was a constituent in my 20th Congressional District of New York. Lee
Jackson, a 37-year-old native of the town of Greenburgh in Westchester
County, was the
[[Page H3598]]
son of Luther Jackson, Jr., a highly respected journalism professor at
Columbia University, and Mrs. Nettie Lee Jackson, a long time community
activist.
Lee was inspired to go into public service by Secretary Brown, under
whom he served in the Department of Commerce. As we extend our
condolences to the Jackson family--and to the families of the other
victims--the bereaved families should be assured that many Americans
share their loss.
Ron Brown, and his courageous coworkers, will long be remembered and
will long be missed.
Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, it was with great sadness that I
learned of the tragic accident that took the life of Ron Brown and 34
dynamic young Americans who were on a journey of hope to a dangerous
part of the world.
I had never had the pleasure to meet Ron Brown until I came to
Washington last year, but I knew long before that, that he was a
crusader, an energetic advocate, and a dedicated public servant. In
politics he was a more than worthy opponent to his Republican
counterparts, and in Government he was clearly a most valued member of
the President's Cabinet and an effective ambassador for America around
the world.
Our country was well served by Ron Brown's enthusiasm, competence,
and determination. His work as a member of the Cabinet earned him well-
deserved praise, especially from the Nation's business community.
My heart and prayers go out to Ron Brown's family at this difficult
time, and also to the families of all those who lost their lives on
this mission of hope. They all shared in that great American gift of
optimism and that great American belief that we can make the future
better than today. They went to the Balkans to share that great
American gift with a people whose history has stolen their hope and
their optimism and their dreams for their children.
Our greatest tribute to these dedicated Americans would be to renew
their journey of hope and to share their great dream of a better future
with those who suffer around the world.
Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a great
American, the late Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown. I am pleased to be
a part of this resolution for tributes to distinguished leaders of our
great Nation. Ron Brown's life work is a true American success story.
It is that American agenda opportunity that I alluded to when I was
sworn in; that gives an opportunity to every American, that hope that
is embodied in our creed. They will soar to high of this Cosmos.
The loss of the Secretary of Commerce is tragic which is underscored
by his commitment to jobs, social justice, and economic security.
During the times that we met at several official occasions, I found him
to be a charming, warm, intelligent, and always a gentleman. I have
fond memories of my discussions with Ron Brown.
I remember watching the news in the immediate aftermath of the civil
unrest in Los Angeles in 1992 following the Rodney King beating trial
verdict, when he met with the angry and frustrated youth of south
central Los Angeles. He and the President played basketball,
demonstrating his ability to relate intergenerationally and across the
socio-economic spectrum. That was perhaps his greatest attribute. He
understood that we must work to help others, and he did that.
Ron Brown perished in Bosnia trying to acquaint a delegation of
businesspeople with the market conditions there and to bring peace to a
war-torn region. Speaks to his humanitarian efforts and as a parallel--
he also worked to bring jobs to south central Los Angeles and improve
the lives of the people, and finally bring peace to people who have
desired it for so long. Ron Brown knew the value of a job to people and
to a community. He worked to improve people's lives by bringing jobs to
those who wanted to work.
I want to offer my condolences to Alma Brown, a woman of courage and
strength, the Brown family and the families of the people whose lives
were lost that day.
I am pleased to participate in this tribute to a wonderful American.
Mr. LAZIO of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I
rise today to pay tribute to the late Commerce Secretary, Ron Brown,
and his colleagues who lost their lives while serving our country in
Bosnia. Secretary Ron Brown, through his eloquence and determination,
contributed greatly to our Nation. Even before his days at the Commerce
Department, Ron Brown's capability and many successes advanced racial
equality in America. His commitment to fostering relations between
foreign governments and U.S. business is evident in America recovering
its leadership role in world trade.
Mr. Speaker, one can never be prepared for such a sad and unexpected
event. Secretary Brown and his colleagues brought hopes of prosperity
to a war-torn region. Those of us from Long Island were especially
saddened to find that Gail Dobert of the Commerce Department was among
those who lost their lives in this tragic end to a mission of peace. We
have witnessed a great loss, not only to friends and family, but to the
Nation. I join with my colleagues today in offering my deepest
sympathy.
general leave
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on House Resolution 406.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I move the previous question on the
resolution.
The previous question was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shaw). The question is on the
resolution.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
The Sergeant at Arms will notify absent Members.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 423,
nays 0, not voting 10, as follows:
[Roll No. 123]
YEAS--423
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Allard
Andrews
Archer
Armey
Bachus
Baesler
Baker (CA)
Baker (LA)
Baldacci
Ballenger
Barcia
Barr
Barrett (NE)
Barrett (WI)
Bartlett
Barton
Bass
Bateman
Becerra
Beilenson
Bentsen
Bereuter
Berman
Bevill
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop
Bliley
Blute
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonior
Bono
Borski
Boucher
Brewster
Browder
Brown (CA)
Brown (FL)
Brown (OH)
Brownback
Bryant (TN)
Bryant (TX)
Bunn
Bunning
Burr
Burton
Buyer
Callahan
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Canady
Cardin
Castle
Chabot
Chambliss
Chapman
Chenoweth
Christensen
Chrysler
Clay
Clayton
Clement
Clinger
Clyburn
Coble
Coburn
Coleman
Collins (GA)
Collins (IL)
Collins (MI)
Combest
Condit
Conyers
Cooley
Costello
Cox
Coyne
Cramer
Crane
Crapo
Cremeans
Cubin
Cunningham
Danner
Davis
de la Garza
Deal
DeFazio
DeLauro
DeLay
Dellums
Deutsch
Diaz-Balart
Dickey
Dicks
Dingell
Dixon
Doggett
Dooley
Doolittle
Dornan
Doyle
Dreier
Duncan
Dunn
Durbin
Edwards
Ehlers
Ehrlich
Emerson
Engel
English
Ensign
Eshoo
Evans
Everett
Ewing
Farr
Fattah
Fawell
Fazio
Fields (LA)
Filner
Flake
Flanagan
Foglietta
Foley
Forbes
Ford
Fowler
Fox
Frank (MA)
Franks (CT)
Franks (NJ)
Frelinghuysen
Frisa
Frost
Funderburk
Furse
Gallegly
Ganske
Gejdenson
Gekas
Gephardt
Gilchrest
Gillmor
Gilman
Gingrich
Gonzalez
Goodlatte
Goodling
Gordon
Goss
Graham
Green (TX)
Greene (UT)
Greenwood
Gunderson
Gutierrez
Gutknecht
Hall (OH)
Hall (TX)
Hamilton
Hancock
Hansen
Harman
Hastert
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Hayworth
Hefley
Hefner
Heineman
Herger
Hilleary
Hilliard
Hobson
Hoekstra
Hoke
Holden
Horn
Hostettler
Houghton
Hoyer
Hunter
Hutchinson
Hyde
Inglis
Istook
Jackson (IL)
Jacobs
Jefferson
Johnson (CT)
Johnson (SD)
Johnson, E. B.
Johnson, Sam
Johnston
Jones
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kelly
Kennedy (MA)
Kennedy (RI)
Kennelly
Kildee
Kim
King
Kingston
Kleczka
Klink
Klug
Knollenberg
Kolbe
LaFalce
LaHood
Largent
Latham
LaTourette
Laughlin
Lazio
Leach
Levin
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (GA)
Lewis (KY)
Lightfoot
Lincoln
Linder
Lipinski
Livingston
LoBiondo
Lofgren
Longley
Lowey
Lucas
Luther
Maloney
Manton
Manzullo
Markey
Martinez
Martini
Mascara
Matsui
McCarthy
McCollum
McCrery
McDade
McDermott
McHale
McHugh
McInnis
McIntosh
McKeon
McKinney
McNulty
Meehan
Meek
Menendez
Metcalf
Meyers
Mica
Millender-McDonald
Miller (CA)
Miller (FL)
Minge
Mink
Moakley
Molinari
Mollohan
Montgomery
Moorhead
Moran
Morella
Murtha
Myers
Myrick
Nadler
Neal
Nethercutt
Neumann
Ney
[[Page H3599]]
Norwood
Nussle
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Orton
Owens
Oxley
Packard
Pallone
Parker
Pastor
Paxon
Payne (NJ)
Payne (VA)
Pelosi
Peterson (FL)
Peterson (MN)
Petri
Pickett
Pombo
Pomeroy
Porter
Portman
Poshard
Pryce
Quillen
Quinn
Radanovich
Rahall
Ramstad
Rangel
Reed
Regula
Richardson
Riggs
Rivers
Roberts
Roemer
Rogers
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Roth
Roukema
Roybal-Allard
Royce
Rush
Sabo
Salmon
Sanders
Sanford
Sawyer
Saxton
Scarborough
Schaefer
Schiff
Schroeder
Schumer
Scott
Seastrand
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
Shuster
Sisisky
Skaggs
Skeen
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (MI)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Smith (WA)
Solomon
Souder
Spence
Spratt
Stark
Stearns
Stenholm
Stockman
Stokes
Studds
Stump
Stupak
Talent
Tate
Tauzin
Taylor (MS)
Taylor (NC)
Tejeda
Thomas
Thompson
Thornberry
Thornton
Thurman
Tiahrt
Torkildsen
Torres
Torricelli
Towns
Traficant
Upton
Velazquez
Vento
Visclosky
Volkmer
Vucanovich
Walker
Walsh
Wamp
Ward
Waters
Watt (NC)
Watts (OK)
Waxman
Weldon (FL)
Weldon (PA)
Weller
White
Whitfield
Wicker
Williams
Wilson
Wise
Wolf
Woolsey
Wynn
Yates
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
Zeliff
Zimmer
NOT VOTING--10
Fields (TX)
Geren
Gibbons
Hayes
Hinchey
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Kasich
Lantos
Rose
Tanner
{time} 1203
Messrs. STOCKMAN, LaHOOD, KENNEDY of Rhode Island, and HASTERT
changed their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
So the resolution was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid upon the table.
____________________