[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 149 (Thursday, October 30, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11443-S11444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NOMINATION OF BILL LANN LEE

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, this has been an extraordinary week in 
Washington with the first State visit by the Chinese leadership since 
1989. While President Jiang Zemin's visit has resulted in important 
agreements on economic, environmental and security issues between our 
two nations, it has not resulted in the hoped for progress on human 
rights issues in China.
  Yesterday, I spoke about Ngawang Choephel, a Tibetan scholar and 
documentary filmmaker who was a Fulbright scholar at Middlebury College 
in Vermont. In 1995 he had gone to Tibet to document traditional 
Tibetan music and dance when he was detained by Chinese authorities and 
then sentenced to 18 years in prison for allegedly spying on behalf of 
the Dalai Lama. No evidence to support these claims has ever been 
produced, despite my persistent inquiries. Nor have the Chinese 
authorities provided any information about Mr. Choephel's whereabouts 
or health status over the past two years. I have raised these concerns 
with President Jiang directly, emphasizing to him that Mr. Choephel's 
release from prison would be a meaningful step in the right direction 
on human rights issues. Yesterday and today in meetings with the 
Chinese President, I raised this human rights issue, again.
  The gulf between our two countries can most clearly be seen on the 
issue of human rights. This week demonstrates the distance between our 
two countries in another way as the Senate considers President 
Clinton's nomination of Bill Lann Lee to be the Assistant Attorney 
General in charge of the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department 
of Justice. When confirmed, Bill Lee will be the principal law 
enforcement officer of the Federal Government to ensure the civil 
rights and equal treatment of all Americans. He will also be the first 
Asian-American to hold this post and exercise such authority.
  A meaningful step the Senate should take without delay is to confirm 
Bill Lee, a Chinese-American whose life story and life's work are 
quintessentially American. At the same time we are urging the Chinese 
Government to improve their human rights' record, we should demonstrate 
through action and not just words our own commitment to human rights 
and civil rights by proceeding without further delay on this important 
nomination.
  Mr. Lee was born in Harlem to Chinese immigrant parents. His parents 
ran a laundry in New York. He went on to graduate from Yale College 
magna cum laude and then Columbia Law School. He testified last week 
that his childhood experiences, which included hearing racial slurs 
directed at his parents and his father's inability to rent an apartment 
after returning from volunteering for military service in World War II, 
greatly influenced his decision to dedicate his life to civil rights 
work. Mr. Lee's efforts over the years have ensured Americans of all 
races and creeds opportunities to advance in their careers, remain in 
their homes and raise healthy children.
  Since July, Senator Kennedy and I repeatedly urged the committee to 
hold a hearing on Mr. Lee's nomination before the Columbus Day recess 
in order to give this important nomination an opportunity to be 
considered by the Senate this year. Unfortunately that hearing only 
took place last week. Chairman Hatch has consistently indicated his 
commitment to getting this nomination considered before adjournment.
  At the hearing, Mr. Lee answered hours of questions. The Republican 
members of the committee and the majority leader also submitted pages 
of written questions to him, which have also been answered. All members 
of the committee have met or had the opportunity to meet with the 
nominee personally. Unfortunately there was no business meeting of the 
Judiciary Committee this week. I have asked the chairman to report this 
nomination to the Senate without delay and hope that he will do so.
  Bill Lee is a nominee who has impressed everyone with whom he has 
met. He is a man of integrity who has practiced mainstream civil rights 
law for 23 years. He is a practical problem solver, as attested to in 
tributes from opposing counsel and people from both political parties.
  Chairman Hatch has clearly indicated that he views Bill Lee as 
imminently qualified for the Assistant Attorney General position at 
Department of Justice. At Mr. Lee's nomination

[[Page S11444]]

hearing last Wednesday, Senator Hatch referred to Bill Lee's ``long and 
distinguished career'' and noted his ``commitment to improving the 
lives of many Americans who have felt the sting of invidious 
discrimination.'' These comments are encouraging.
  Senator Hatch has been stalwart in moving a number of top Justice 
Department nominees through the committee promptly. As examples, I 
point to the nomination of Eric Holder to be the Deputy Attorney 
General, Ray Fisher to be the Associate Attorney General, and Joel 
Klein to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division.
  In connection with the confirmation of Assistant Attorney General 
Klein, Senator Hatch said:
  ``I believe it is neither fair nor wise to hold a nominee hostage 
because of such concerns, especially one as competent and decent as 
Joel Klein. In my view, sound public policy is best served by bringing 
this nominee up for a vote, permitting the Justice Department to 
proceed with a confirmed chief of the Antitrust Division, and for us in 
Congress to move forward and work with the Department and other 
involved agencies in the formulation and implementation of 
telecommunications policies.''
  ``There are times when I disagree with the President, but I have to 
say when he does a good job and when he does nominate good people . . . 
then I will support the President.
  ``I will do what I can to show support for him and to encourage him 
to continue to pick the highest quality people for these positions.''
  Adhering to that policy should lead us to a prompt and favorable vote 
on Mr. Lee.
  At the recent nomination hearing of Ray Fisher, Senator Hatch assured 
the administration that ``nominees for the Department of Justice will 
continue to receive thorough and prompt consideration by the 
committee.'' I am hopeful that Senator Hatch will apply this same 
standard to Mr. Lee's nomination.
  I look forward to the vote on Bill Lee, a stellar nominee to head the 
Office of Civil Rights at Department of Justice. Mr. Lee's recent 
decision to recuse himself from any involvement in the Proposition 209 
case further reflects his integrity and forthrightness on these sorts 
of matters.
  Bill Lee's story is a true American saga. Raised by immigrants, in 
one generation he has risen to the top of his profession and is now 
being considered to head the Nation's civil rights division. Let us 
make sure the story ends the way it should--with the confirmation of 
Mr. Lee as Assistant Attorney General before we adjourn this session.

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