[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10239-S10240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      NOMINATION OF BILL LANN LEE

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I take the floor today to speak 
about the nomination of Bill Lann Lee to be Assistant Attorney General 
for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice. I urge the Judiciary 
Committee to act expeditiously on this nomination and send it to the 
full Senate for a vote.
  Bill Lann Lee brings outstanding legal, educational and personal 
credentials to this important position. Most recently, he served as the 
western regional counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education 
Fund. Mr. Lee is also regarded by many as a skilled consensus-builder 
with a knack for finding pragmatic solutions, earning him praise from 
allies and adversaries alike. His numerous accomplishments in 
litigation and over 20 years of experience in civil rights work have 
established him as one of the most experienced civil rights lawyers in 
the Nation.
  Bill Lee was inspired to become a civil rights lawyer by his father, 
who was subjected to discrimination in

[[Page S10240]]

housing and other areas because of his race, even after serving his 
country loyally in the U.S. Army during World War II. Witnessing this 
bigotry had a profound impact on young Bill. After graduating from 
Columbia Law School in 1974, he entered the legal profession with a 
passion for serving the public interest and advocating for civil 
rights.
  Bill Lee will bring a passion and commitment to the cause of civil 
rights and equal treatment under law for all Americans. He is a 
tremendous role model for all Americans who care about civil rights. 
Early in life, he recognized the importance of public service and he 
has dedicated his life to it.
  On that point, I would like to take this opportunity to express my 
concern that many Americans, especially those with Asian names or of 
Asian heritage, may be less interested in becoming involved in public 
life as a result of a series of unfortunate and disparaging remarks 
made by some in the media and in public positions.
  Such remarks and misperceptions appeal to the worst human instincts 
when we should be appealing to the best. A recent study by the National 
Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium documented an increase last 
year in hate crimes targeting Asian Pacific Americans.
  This disturbing trend demonstrates that now is the time for these 
issues to be handled fairly, thoroughly and expediently, under strong 
new leadership by the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. 


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