[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 35 (Tuesday, March 18, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H1041-H1042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ALEXIS HERMAN WILL BE A GREAT SECRETARY

  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to 
stand before this House this day on behalf of my good friend and native 
Alabamian, Ms. Alexis Herman. At the present time her confirmation is 
before the U.S. Senate as Secretary of Labor. Alexis is the daughter of 
a single parent. She has labored her entire life working to help people 
stay employed and off welfare.
  As President Clinton's assistant, she was a leader in making sure 
that women, Hispanics, African-Americans were equally involved in our 
Nation's agenda. She is a mover. She is a shaker. She has the 
credentials, the desires, the integrity, the purpose, the intellect, 
the capability, the personality and the grace to be Secretary of Labor. 
And in that respect, Mr. Speaker, I recommend her confirmation.
  She appears as an American with qualifications of an all-American 
combination. Her background is a modern-day equivalent of being born in 
a log cabin, and her career successes mirror that of a Wall Street 
broker. That is an all-American combination.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia 
[Ms. Norton].
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alabama for 
yielding to me.
  Mr. Speaker, to live the life of a nun these days is not good enough 
if you want to serve your country. That is what Alexis Herman, the 
President's nominee to be Secretary of Labor, wanted to be. It is our 
good fortune that she decided to serve her country in this way.
  To live a righteous life is not good enough. That is what Alexis 
Herman has done. Moreover, Mr. Speaker, Alexis Herman has lived a life 
which groomed her for this agency. When she was a younger woman, she 
served in a number of capacities in the Labor Department, in the 
Women's Bureau, and as assistant to Ray Marshall, who was then 
Secretary.
  The Senate has been on a fishing expedition for 3 months now. It has 
come up empty. I find very few people in this life whose integrity I 
would personally vouch for. Alexis Herman is one of those people. I 
have seen this nominee up close. It is difficult to think of any 
American who would serve her country better as Secretary of Labor. I 
hope that the other body will soon recognize this and will in fact vote 
her to be the Secretary of Labor of the United States of America.
  I thank the gentleman for yielding to me, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California 
[Ms. Woolsey].
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, today is the first day of the confirmation 
hearings for Alexis Herman, a real American success story. I commend 
the President for choosing this outstanding woman for Secretary of 
Labor. Ms. Herman has devoted her life to public service. Ms. Herman 
has been involved in job placement programs throughout her career. Some 
of her accomplishments include leadership of the black women's 
employment program of Atlanta and director of the Women's Bureau at the 
Department of Labor during the Carter administration.
  More recently, Mr. Speaker, Alexis Herman worked closely with former 
Commerce Secretary, the late Ron Brown. She made the White House Office 
of Public Liaison a dynamic part of the President's office. Throughout 
Alexis Herman's career, she has made equal opportunity for women and 
minorities a top priority.
  I urge the other body to confirm Alexis Herman without delay. She is 
a great woman and a great role model for all of us.
  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the Virgin 
Islands [Ms. Christian-Green].
  Ms. CHRISTIAN-GREEN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from 
Alabama [Mr. Hilliard] for organizing this special order and affording 
me this time to say a few words in recognition and support of Alexis 
Herman, President Clinton's nominee for Secretary of Labor.
  At this time, when America is challenged to meet the needs of the 
unemployed and underemployed and to bring training and job 
opportunities, not only to these, but to the millions who

[[Page H1042]]

will no longer be eligible for welfare benefits, there is none more 
suitable to lead this agency.
  Ms. Herman's background in job training and placement and her 
pioneering efforts to bring women and minorities into the workplace 
coupled with her sensitivity, her competence, and her private sector 
and White House experience makes her eminently qualified.
  I have had the pleasure and good fortune to work with Alexis Herman 
at the Democratic National Committee, the New York convention, and in 
her position as public liaison at the Whited House.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be able to speak in support of this 
outstanding individual, who in the President's own words, were his 
``eyes and ears working to connect the American people.''
  I urge the Senate to move expeditiously and confirm Alexis Herman as 
Secretary of Labor.

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