[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H6678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    ELECTION OF MEMBERS TO CERTAIN STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE

  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 
208), and I ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in 
the House.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the resolution.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                          House Resolution 208

       Resolved, That the following named Members be, and that 
     they are hereby, elected to the following standing committees 
     of the House of Representatives:
       To the Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Robert 
     Weygand of Rhode Island.
       To the Committee on National Security: Cynthia McKinney of 
     Georgia.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I will not 
object, but I was here on the floor before and wanted to add just a 
couple of words to the tribute to Betty Shabazz.
  Betty Shabazz was my constituent for many years in Mount Vernon, NY, 
and was truly a friend and a great lady, and I stood up before, but I 
was not seen, and so I wanted to just very briefly say a few words on 
her behalf and ask that my words be put into the Record behind Mr. 
Rangel's remarks.
  I last saw Betty Shabazz in my district at a church in a celebration, 
a ceremony, dealing with United States and African relations and 
investment in Africa. I have known Betty for many years, am familiar 
with her work and education and caring about young people and caring 
about the future of this country.
  I want to say that Betty Shabazz was truly a woman of valor, truly a 
woman who was color-blind and cared about all Americans, regardless of 
race, creed, color, or religious origin. Her life personified, I think, 
what makes this country great, how someone can take adversity in their 
own personal lives and just move themselves forward, going to school 
and getting her doctorate and sharing what she knew with the community.
  I remember sitting next to her last year at the Democratic National 
Convention, and we chatted about all the things that she cared about, 
and I just wanted to add my voice to say that we truly miss her 
already. She was a great woman, but her legacy will live on. She cared 
not only about the people in my district again, but about all people, 
and I represent the communities of Mount Vernon, NY and Yonkers, NY in 
which she lived, and she really made us all proud.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. ENGEL. Further reserving the right to object, I yield to the 
gentlewoman from Texas.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, if I might just ask the 
indulgence of the Speaker on behalf of the constituents of the 18th 
Congressional District of Texas, we admire the fact that New York 
claimed Dr. Betty Shabazz, but she is truly a national treasure, and 
for those of us in Texas, we acknowledge that Betty Shabazz was a 
symbol of motherhood in the fact that she rose as a single mother to 
raise six daughters and steadfastly continued her work on behalf of all 
children in this Nation. So those of us in Texas benefitted from her 
love of education and children as well as her great work at the Medgar 
Evers College and her great work with Coretta Scott King and Merlie 
Evers, of course widows who lost their husbands to tragedy, but as well 
to the cause of civil rights, like her husband, Malcolm X.
  So I just wanted to join my colleague from New York [Mr. Engel], and 
on behalf of my constituents. We acknowledge her as a national 
treasure, and I am very proud to be able to stand here and salute the 
Honorable Dr. Betty Shabazz through her death. She has helped to 
consolidate those of us who would support children and be able to 
continue her fight for equality and justice.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. ENGEL. Further reserving the right to object, I yield to the 
gentleman from New York.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to join the gentlewoman from Texas 
[Ms. Jackson-Lee] and the gentleman from New York [Mr. Engel] for their 
work on behalf of Betty Shabazz, who has become a mother figure for our 
entire land, the tragedies she suffered in the loss of her husband, the 
tragedy in her own life, and yet was able to go through so many 
wonderful things in her life. She will long be missed, and she has left 
her mark on our society.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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