[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 20, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN HONORS SEVEN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NITA M. LOWEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 1997

  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments of seven 
outstanding women who exemplify the best that the legal profession has 
to offer. These women will be honored next week by the New York City 
National Organization for Women because they have displayed the 
intelligence and perseverance that is absolutely essential to be a 
successful attorney, and possess an unswerving dedication to advancing 
the rights of women in society.
  Janet Benshoof is one of the premier experts on reproductive rights 
and privacy law in America. As the founder and president of the Center 
for Reproductive Law and Policy, she had been involved in most of the 
landmark Supreme Court cases involving reproductive rights. Ms. 
Benshoof had been previously honored by the MacArthur Foundation 
Fellowship and by the National Law Journal as 1 of the 100 most 
influential lawyers in America.
  Sylvia Law is the Elizabeth Dollard professor of law, medicine and 
psychiatry and codirector of the Arthur Garfield Hays Program at New 
York University Law School. She has been involved with many landmark 
cases, including Goldberg versus Kelly, in which the Supreme Court 
recognized that welfare is an entitlement that cannot be discontinued 
without reason or an opportunity to protest. She is also the author of 
several books and articles on jurisprudence, welfare, and health care 
policy.
  Donna Lieberman is founder and director of the New York Civil 
Liberties Union's reproductive rights project, and one of the leaders 
of the New York pro-choice movement. She has broadened the base of the 
reproductive rights movement, linking reproductive rights with the 
issues of HIV/AIDS prevention, gender equity, and education.
  Elizabeth Mason has gained national recognition in her representation 
of victims of sexual harassment and violence in the workplace. 
Elizabeth has been instrumental in drafting legislation to guarantee an 
employee's right to seek relief against an employer if she is sexually 
assaulted in the workplace.
  Valorie Vodjik argued the groundbreaking Supreme Court decision that 
overturned the 152-year-old male-only admission policy at the Citadel. 
In that case she won the opportunity for women to obtain an 
undergraduate, military-style education. Ms. Vodjik is an expert on 
sexual discrimination and supervised the NYU sexual harassment law 
clinic.
  As the U.S. attorney for the southern district of New York, Mary Jo 
White is a preeminent role model for women. Under her leadership, the 
U.S. attorney's office has prosecuted large-scale securities and 
financial frauds, other white collar offenses, international terrorism, 
money laundering, official corruption, organized crime, and drug 
trafficking. Her leadership has led to the dismantling of some of the 
largest and most violent gangs in New York.
  Patricia J. Williams is an internationally renowned expert on race 
relations and women's studies. She is a professor at the Columbia 
University School of Law and the author of a number of books, including 
``The Alchemy of Race and Rights: Diary of a Law Professor.'' She wrote 
an amicus brief in support of planned parenthood in the Supreme Court 
case of Planned Parenthood versus Casey.
  Mr. Speaker, these seven women together have changed the course of 
the women's rights movement in America. Almost every woman in America 
has benefited from their actions. I am truly honored to recognize their 
accomplishments in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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