[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 35 (Tuesday, March 18, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                SUPPORT FOR NOMINATION OF ALEXIS HERMAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Michigan [Ms. Kilpatrick] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, as most Americans know, March is the 
month for women. It is Women's History Month in the United States.
  I first want to commend the five women in Aberdeen last week who came 
forward and recanted their stories that they had been raped by their 
drill sergeants. I think that was an outstanding tribute to women, and 
I think their courage for coming forth and telling the truth must be 
congratulated.
  Today the Senate started their hearings for a fine African-American 
woman, Alexis Herman, to become the next Secretary of our Labor 
Department. We are almost in the second quarter of 1997. Nearly 3 
months have passed and we do not have yet the President's nominee for 
the Department of Labor. I commend the Senate for beginning the 
hearings for Ms. Alexis Herman.
  Ms. Herman, like me, is an African-American woman. Ms. Herman is a 
lover of education and is well documented and degreed like myself.
  Ms. Herman is a civil rights activist for men and women, black and 
white in this country, and her record speaks for itself.
  With all that said, that is not why I believe Alexis Herman ought to 
be confirmed. She is qualified. She is dedicated, and she will provide 
for this U.S. Labor Department what we need, which is a strong fighter 
for jobs, one who will make opportunities available for our young 
people, one who will give her best to see that our Labor Department 
reaches its goal of full employment in America.
  I strongly support Ms. Herman. Her record of advancing programs for 
young people, for going that extra mile to develop creative, innovative 
work experiences for young and old, black and white, is to be 
commended.
  Alexis Herman will make a fine Labor Secretary. Her hard work up to 
this time has proven that she is one who will take risks. She will 
speak out. She will look out for our young people and take care of our 
labor movement.
  I urge my colleagues, all of us, to work together, to speak out, to 
see that this most important department in our government, the Labor 
Department, confirms this fine woman. What better tribute could we give 
to women in this country than to confirm Alexis Herman as our new 
Secretary of Labor?

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