[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 154 (Thursday, November 6, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11894-S11895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




NOMINATION OF BILL LANN LEE TO BE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR CIVIL 
                                 RIGHTS

 Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the 
nomination of Bill Lann Lee to be Assistant Attorney General for Civil 
Rights at the Department of Justice. I'm here today because I believe 
that Bill Lann Lee should be favorably reported out of the Senate 
Judiciary Committee. He should have his day. He should have a vote on 
the floor of the Senate.
  I've heard of Bill Lann Lee for a number of years. I've heard about 
this exceptional person, who brings a great deal of legal competency, 
energy, and vitality to advocating for those who have been left out of 
the mainstream. Contrary to what my Republican colleagues have 
asserted, Mr. Lee has used the law for the benefit of all Americans. It 
is so obvious from his record that he loves the law and uses it as a 
tool to help those in our society who need help.
  I was troubled when I heard his nomination was being stalled in the 
Senate Judiciary Committee. Once again a capable person in the field of 
civil rights law, a person of color, was being stalled in the Senate 
Judiciary Committee.
  I feel so strongly about this nomination and about what Mr. Lee's 
advocacy has meant for not only people of color but for women, for the 
disabled, and those who are either overlooked or undermined by the law. 
I felt so strongly that I organized the Democratic women of the Senate 
to write a letter to Chairman Orrin Hatch asking to free Mr. Lee from 
the Senate Judiciary Committee.
  But because it is the Senate Judiciary Committee my letter used 
language far more judicious than that which is being used against Mr. 
Lee. My letter, which is signed by all the Democratic women Senators, 
urges favorable consideration of Mr. Lee's nomination. We bring to 
Chairman Hatch's attention that Mr. Lee has dedicated his entire career 
to enforcing civil rights laws.
  He has 23 years of professional experience ranging from cases dealing 
with employment discrimination, providing access to health care, 
helping children who have been victims of lead poisoning, to making 
public transportation accessible for the disabled, and then guess what, 
fighting for something called equal access to education.
  Isn't this exactly who we want to be heading up the Civil Rights 
Division at the Department of Justice--someone who has practiced 
mainstream civil rights law, who believes in opportunity for everyone, 
and who has pursued this under the law?
  We have sent this letter; I don't know what the response will be, but 
I will tell you once again it's the fall, so it must be the Senate 
Judiciary Committee. Once again, someone comes before the Senate 
Judiciary Committee with incredible legal competence, who is willing to 
serve the Nation and to come forth before the Senate Judiciary 
Committee only to once again face a humiliating experience.
  We don't want Bill Lann Lee to be the Anita Hill of 1997. I think 
it's outrageous that once again we have someone with a great background 
who is going to be stymied and humiliated. This is not what America is 
all about.
  We've heard about Mr. Lee's exceptional background. The hard work of 
his family, their willingness to fight for this country, and Mr. Lee's 
work to fight in the courtrooms to make sure the law works for 
everyone.
  It is not fair that after having an exemplary professional record, to 
be a person of judicial temperament, to bring these great qualities to 
this position, Mr. Lee has to face this. Now I don't think that the 
U.S. Senate should be a forum for attacking Chinese-Americans. I just 
don't think that's right. We have seen them attacked in hearings on 
campaign finance and now we hear them being attacked in the Senate 
Judiciary Committee. I will tell you when talking to the Asian Pacific-
American constituents that I represent, they are concerned when their 
best and brightest come forward for an appointment to the Justice 
Department, he's being brushed aside and all the Republicans want to 
focus on is campaign finance.
  I think it is outrageous. Now let me tell you Bill Lann Lee has 
applied for a job at the Justice Department. He is not applying to be a 
member of a radical right wing foundation. He is applying for a job at 
the Justice Department. And this is what his qualifications are all 
about.
  If Mr. Lee were applying for a radical right wing foundation maybe 
the criteria the Senate Judiciary Committee is using would be 
appropriate, but it is not appropriate to use radical right wing 
foundation criteria for a nomination to the Justice Department.
  If the Republicans want to attack President Clinton, there's lots of 
ways to attack President Clinton. If they want to attack civil rights 
law then do it through the legislative process but do not attack a 
nominee who comes forth, who is willing to put his life aside and the 
practice that he's developed working with the NAACP, to serve this 
Nation.
  I don't know how many additional nominations President Clinton can 
bring to the Senate. One, because they are either stalled out or people 
are humiliated when they come forth, or two, there is going to be an 
increasing unwillingness to attract qualified nominees.
  I want Bill Lann Lee to know that I'm on his side and so are the 
Democratic women of the Senate. We would love to see him at the Civil 
Rights Division in the Department of Justice. Not because he would 
favor some but because he would fight for the women of this country, 
for the people of color in this country, for the people that need civil 
rights advanced within the Justice Department.
  And to the people of the Asian Pacific-American community I say not 
to lose heart. We're so proud of Bill Lann Lee. We're so proud of what 
you do for America, but we're not proud at all of the Senate Republican 
controlled Judiciary Committee.
  I ask to have printed in the Record a copy of the letter supporting 
Mr. Lee's nomination from the Democratic women of the Senate. I urge my 
colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee to favorably report Mr. 
Lee's nomination and let him have a vote in the full Senate.
  The letter follows:


                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                 Washington, DC, November 4, 1997.
     Hon. Orrin G. Hatch,
     Chairman, Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Hatch: We are writing to urge you to 
     favorably report the nomination of Bill Lann Lee to be 
     Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department 
     of Justice. We understand that the markup

[[Page S11895]]

     on this nomination is scheduled for Thursday, November 6 in 
     the Senate Judiciary Committee.
       Mr. Lee has dedicated his entire career to enforcing our 
     nation's civil rights laws. He has more than 20 years of 
     experience in a wide-range of areas in civil rights law, 
     including employment discrimination, access to health care, 
     prevention of lead poisoning, public transportation equity, 
     and equal access to education.
       The Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights must 
     enforce our nation's civil rights laws for everyone. Mr. Lee 
     is a problem-solver and consensus builder. His work has 
     helped Americans regardless of age, race, and gender. He has 
     enabled thousands of Americans to shatter the glass ceiling.
       Mr. Lee has practiced mainstream civil rights law. He does 
     not believe in quotas, which are illegal. He believes in 
     opportunity. To achieve this goal, he has pursued flexible 
     and reasonable remedies that in each instance were approved 
     by a court.
       Numerous civil rights groups, women's groups, and elected 
     officials from both parties support Mr. Lee's nomination. The 
     next Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights will have to 
     address a number of potentially divisive issues. There is no 
     doubt that Mr. Lee has the integrity, competence, and 
     experience to lead this division.
       In addition, Mr. Lee has agreed to recuse himself from 
     involvement with the California Proposition 209 case, if he 
     is confirmed. This action is entirely appropriate and should 
     help clear the way for his confirmation.
       We urge you to support his nomination and report it 
     favorably.
           Sincerely,
         Barbara A. Mikulski, Barbara Boxer, Patty Murray, Mary L. 
           Landrieu, Carol Moseley-Braun, Dianne 
           Feinstein.

                          ____________________